be constitutive of

USAGE SUMMARY

"be constitutive of" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to signify that something is an essential part of a whole, or that it is an inseparable quality of something. For example, "Love and kindness are constitutive of a healthy relationship."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"It is commonly understood to be constitutive of that which touches an object, such as conservation and preservation activity," he said.

The New York Times

But religion in the societies he studied had other functions in that it was perceived to be constitutive of categories of thought of the nature of society, and of constructs of an ideal world.

The Guardian

But whereas Kant had found reason to be the form that mind imposes on the world, Hegel found it to be constitutive of the world itself not something that mind imposes but something it discovers.

Britannica

For example, it might be constitutive of the meaning of the symbol "bachelor" that it be causally connected to a symbol whose meaning is "unmarried".

Encyclopedia Britannica

That's the usual historicist project, and nothing wrong with it it could nearly be said to be constitutive of humanism but we noted that there are alternatives out there, which allow those different times a freer relationship to one another, free in particular from chronology and from cause and effect.

Princeton University

that most philosophers of science took to be constitutive of rationality.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

He argues that a special weight should be attached to considerations of health, since health is constitutive of well-being and not merely instrumental to it.

SEP

In Charles Taylor's phrase, human beings are "self-interpreting animals" (Taylor 1985: 45), where the interpretation is constitutive of the interpreter.

SEP

The idea that tolerance was constitutive of something called western culture would have surprised Edward Burnett Tylor, who, as a Quaker, had been barred from attending England's great universities.

The Guardian

Groups often achieve what individuals can't, and the readiness to identify oneself with a group, to take part in a group effort, and to subordinate one's own immediate interests or desires to it is constitutive of humanity.

The New Yorker

And this is the sense in which denial is constitutive of the company, a built-in feature that cannot be acknowledged by any of the major players because self-annihilation would be the result.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be constitutive of" when you want to emphasize that something is not just related to, but fundamentally forms the nature or essence of something else. It's stronger than saying something is 'important' or 'related'.

Common error

Avoid using "be constitutive of" in casual or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "is part of" or "forms" are often more appropriate and natural in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be constitutive of" functions as a linking verb phrase that connects a subject with a predicate adjective, indicating that the subject is an essential part or element of something. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase signifies that something is an inseparable quality of something else.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

28%

News & Media

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be constitutive of" is a valuable tool for expressing that something is an essential and defining part of something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for formal contexts. While common in academic and scientific writing, it should be used sparingly in informal settings where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Remember that "be constitutive of" emphasizes essence rather than simple composition, making it a powerful choice when precision and clarity are paramount. Also remember to explore alternatives like "be an integral part of", "be essential to", or "be intrinsic to" to enhance your writing's variety and impact. From the examples available in Ludwig, this sentence is particularly frequent in Science and Academia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be essential to

Emphasizes the necessity of something.

be an integral part of

Implies that something is essential and necessary for completeness.

be a fundamental element of

Highlights the foundational nature of something.

be a core component of

Highlights that something is a central piece within a larger structure.

be intrinsic to

Suggests that something is inherently part of something else.

be inherent in

Implies that something naturally exists or is inseparable.

be a building block of

Suggests that something is a basic element upon which something else is constructed.

be at the heart of

Emphasizes the central or most important aspect of something.

be definitive of

Indicates that something determines or characterizes something else.

be inseparable from

Highlights that two things cannot be considered apart.

FAQs

How can I use "be constitutive of" in a sentence?

Use "be constitutive of" to indicate that something is an essential and defining part of something else. For example, "Honesty is constitutive of a trusting relationship."

What phrases are similar to "be constitutive of"?

You can use alternatives like "be an integral part of", "be essential to", or "be intrinsic to", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "be constitutive of" or "constitute"?

While both are related, "be constitutive of" emphasizes the relational aspect, highlighting that one thing forms a part of another. "Constitute" means to compose or form something. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

What is the difference between "be constitutive of" and "be composed of"?

"Be composed of" simply means that something is made up of certain elements. "Be constitutive of" implies that those elements are essential and define the nature of the whole. While related, the latter is stronger and emphasizes essence, as opposed to simple composition.