as essential as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as essential as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the importance of two things, indicating that one is equally important as the other. Example: "In our project, communication is as essential as collaboration for success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's at least as essential as criticism.

Harvard Business Review

Are Dads as Essential as Moms?

University of California, Berkeley

As essential as the drinks are the accompaniments.

The Guardian - Travel

3. A new bathmat is as essential as new sheets.

The New York Times

Computer programming will be as essential as cursive handwriting.

The New Yorker

The process seemed as essential as whatever transformation it wrought.

The New Yorker

It's as essential as lunch for optimal learning.

The Washington Post

Tactile handling was deemed as essential as visual inspection.

The New York Times - Arts

Few organisations are as essential as Amnesty International.

The Times

For Socrates, the pursuit of knowledge was as essential as the air we breathe.

The Guardian - Books

But as essential as these documents are, they face new — and continuing — obstacles.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as essential as", ensure the comparison is clear and the items being compared are logically related to emphasize their equivalent importance.

Common error

Avoid using "as essential as" when comparing items that are clearly not of equal importance. This can weaken your argument and confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as essential as" functions as a comparative correlative construction. It is used to establish an equivalence in importance or necessity between two distinct elements, as affirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

21%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as essential as" is a widely used comparative construction that serves to highlight the equal importance of two subjects. According to Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and versatility make it suitable for a broad range of contexts, including news, academic writing, and business communications. While there are several alternative phrases available, such as "equally crucial as" or "just as vital as", "as essential as" remains a clear and effective way to convey equivalence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally crucial as

Replaces 'essential' with 'crucial', emphasizing the critical importance.

just as vital as

Substitutes 'essential' with 'vital', stressing the indispensable nature.

as indispensable as

Uses 'indispensable' instead of 'essential', highlighting that something cannot be done without.

as critical as

Replaces 'essential' with 'critical', underscoring the crucial role something plays.

as important as

A more general synonym, indicating a high degree of significance.

as fundamental as

Highlights the foundational nature of something, similar to essential.

as necessary as

Directly states the necessity, similar to essential.

on par with

This idiom indicates equality in importance or status.

as requisite as

Uses 'requisite' instead of 'essential', suggesting it is required or necessary.

akin to

Compares the similarity in necessity or importance between two elements.

FAQs

How can I use "as essential as" in a sentence?

You can use "as essential as" to compare two things and show that they are equally important. For example, "Communication is "as essential as" collaboration in a successful project."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "as essential as"?

Alternatives include "equally crucial as", "just as vital as", or "as important as". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "as essential as"?

Yes, the phrase "as essential as" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to show that two things are equally important.

What's the difference between "as essential as" and "more important than"?

"As essential as" indicates that two things have equal importance, while "more important than" shows that one thing is superior in importance to another.