be central to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be central to" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to be very important or essential to something. You can use it in a sentence to describe something that is crucial or key to a particular situation, event, or concept. For example: - Community involvement is central to the success of this project. - Education is central to achieving social equality. - The theme of love and family is central to the novel. - Effective communication is central to any healthy relationship. - The safety and well-being of our employees is central to our company's values.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

IT would be central to the resolution.

Harvard Business Review

Bahrani considers archaeological fieldwork to be central to her work.

Columbia University

Fairness must be central to everything we stand for.

The Guardian

Tackling inequality should be central to the post-2015 agenda.

The Guardian - Business

He'll be central to Casualty's 30th anniversary next year.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Business will be central to Somaliland's growth and development.

The Guardian

The internet promises to be central to the discussions.

The Guardian

The individual story needn't be central to political filmmaking.

The Guardian - Opinion

The huskies used to be central to Greenlandic life.

The New Yorker

Power-plant regulation will be central to any new policy.

The New York Times

So she will be central to the negotiations.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be central to" when you want to emphasize the indispensable role or importance of something in a particular context. It adds weight and significance to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "be central to" in sentences where simpler vocabulary would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex and pretentious. Instead, opt for words like "important" or "essential" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be central to" functions as a linking verb + adjective phrase expressing the importance or essential nature of a subject within a given context. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is grammatically sound and indicates that something is of primary significance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be central to" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression signifying that something is of utmost importance or essential. As Ludwig AI indicates, it appears frequently in news, academic, and formal business contexts. While effective for emphasizing significance, it's important to avoid overuse in simpler sentences where words like "important" or "essential" may suffice. Alternative phrases, such as "be essential to" or "be critical to", can offer variations in emphasis. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, writers can use "be central to" effectively to add weight and significance to their statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be essential to

Emphasizes the necessity of something.

be critical to

Highlights the importance of something for success or avoidance of failure.

be vital to

Stresses the life-sustaining or crucial nature of something.

be paramount to

Suggests the supreme importance or rank of something.

be fundamental to

Indicates that something forms a necessary base or core.

be integral to

Highlights that something is an indispensable part of a whole.

be key to

Suggests something is a crucial element for achieving a goal.

revolve around

Indicates that something is the main focus or subject.

hinge on

Emphasizes that the outcome depends on something.

be at the heart of

Highlights that something is the emotional or symbolic center.

FAQs

How can I use "be central to" in a sentence?

Use "be central to" to emphasize the crucial or essential role of something. For instance, "Effective communication is central to a successful relationship".

What are some alternatives to "be central to"?

You can use alternatives such as "be essential to", "be critical to", or "be vital to" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

Is it better to use "be central to" or "be important to"?

"Be central to" implies a higher degree of importance and indispensability than "be important to". Choose "be central to" when you want to highlight that something is absolutely crucial, whereas "be important to" is suitable for less critical elements.

Can "be central to" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

While "be central to" is generally appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, using simpler alternatives like "be key to" or "revolve around" may be more suitable in informal settings.