be a primary influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a primary influence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the impact or effect that someone or something has on a situation, decision, or outcome. Example: "Her mentorship was crucial, as she was able to be a primary influence in shaping my career path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But this year two political scientists published studies claiming that in addition to environment, genes may be a primary influence on political engagement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Pearl White was a primary influence in her eventful life.

The New Yorker

Claude Lorrain, that longtime Italian resident and Turner hero, was a primary influence on Turner's "Liber Studiorum".

The New York Times - Arts

(Stephen Holden) ★ THE CLEAN (Thursday) This New Zealand band, which has been going off and on since 1978, plays a jangly, damaged kind of indie psychedelia and was a primary influence on Pavement and Yo La Tengo.

The New York Times - Arts

In a paper published to support the new evidence, Vezzosi said Caterina's Middle Eastern heritage was a primary influence on Leonardo's work as an artist, mathematician and philosopher.

The Guardian

The original manga was a primary influence on The Matrix and fans of that series' conundrums will find lots to ponder in this spectacular sci-fi noir, a sequel 10 years after the original.

The Guardian - Film

Anil Kapoor's slippery quiz show host is the only character with depth, but Boyle gives us a lovely ending, and if you're thinking a certain Victorian novelist is a primary influence, it's notable that the fine editing is by a C Dickens - in this case, Chris.

The Guardian - Film

D&D is a primary influence for today's video game designers.

TechCrunch

Coaches are a primary influence on athletes' development in youth sport (Horn, 2008).

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

In particular, the degradation of fullerene aggregates in the aquatic environment is a primary influence on their mobility, sorption potential and toxicity.

Carbon

According to Gagliano, Rinuccini was a primary influence in the emergence of opera as a genre; he adapted the conventions of his contemporary lyric poets to produce the librettos for two of the earliest operas, Dafne and Euridice the latter set to music by both Peri and Giulio Caccini.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be a primary influence", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being influenced and the nature of that influence. Provide specific examples to strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "be a primary influence" without supporting evidence. It's crucial to demonstrate how the influence is exerted and its specific effects to avoid making unsubstantiated claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a primary influence" functions as a predicate nominative, where "be" is a linking verb connecting the subject to a noun phrase that renames or describes it. Ludwig confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be a primary influence" is a grammatically sound expression used to denote a leading or dominant factor affecting a particular situation. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, its usage frequency is relatively rare. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, as well as science-related contexts, often to emphasize the significance of certain elements. To ensure clarity and impact, it's important to support claims of primary influence with concrete evidence and specific examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exert a major influence

Changes "primary" to "major", emphasizing the significance of the influence. Minor change in intensity.

have the greatest impact

Emphasizes the superlative nature of the impact, being the most significant.

have a leading impact

Replaces "influence" with "impact" and "primary" with "leading", focusing on the extent of the effect.

have a significant effect

Uses "effect" instead of "influence", highlighting the result rather than the process of affecting something.

play a pivotal role

Shifts from influence to role, indicating a crucial part in a process or outcome. Stronger sense of necessity.

be a major determinant

Highlights the role of something in deciding an outcome. More decisive than a simple influence.

be a key factor

Focuses on being an essential element in achieving a result. Less about direct influence, more about essential contribution.

be a dominant force

Implies a strong and controlling influence. Adds a sense of power.

wield considerable influence

Emphasizes the active use of influence. More about the agent than the effect.

shape decisively

Focuses on the act of shaping and the decisiveness of the action, rather than being an influence.

FAQs

How can I use "be a primary influence" in a sentence?

You can use "be a primary influence" to describe something or someone that significantly affects a particular outcome. For example, "Early childhood experiences can "be a primary influence" on adult behavior."

What are some alternatives to "be a primary influence"?

Alternatives include "have a major impact", "play a pivotal role", or "be a key factor", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "be a primary influence" or "be a major influence"?

Both "be a primary influence" and "be a major influence" are grammatically correct. "Be a primary influence" suggests the most important influence, while "be a major influence" suggests one of several important influences.

What's the difference between "be a primary influence" and "be an influence"?

"Be an influence" simply means to have some effect, while ""be a primary influence"" indicates that the effect is of utmost importance or significance compared to other influences.