be key of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be key of" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning; a more appropriate phrase would be needed to express the intended idea. Example: "You need to be the key of our success" would be better phrased as "You need to be key to our success."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Staying on the field will be key, of course.

The New York Times

The user experience will also be key, of course, and Audi has some interesting innovations there with the Aicon, too, including a companion drone that comes with the car, and a built-in "empathetic electronic vehicle assistant".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Body language is key, of course, as this is a movie all about bods.

The Guardian - Film

The midfield is key of them, playing high-tempo, pressing football.

BBC

Confidence is key of everything.

WikiHow

"That's what the equity markets are keying off of".

The New York Times

Systems like LinkNYC will be key components of Flow.

The New Yorker

That was key for both of them".

The New York Times - Sports

Partnerships are key to all of that.

The Guardian

Resources of information is key to success.

WikiHow

Several of them are key components of conserved signaling pathways.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be key of". Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives like "be key to", "be crucial for", or "be essential to" to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Common error

A common mistake is using "of" after "key" when "to" is the correct preposition. Ensure you use "be key to" rather than "be key of" to maintain grammatical accuracy. The correct usage emphasizes the relationship between something and its importance or success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be key of" attempts to function as a linking verb phrase, aiming to connect a subject with a description of its importance. However, this phrase is grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate construction would use "be key to". Ludwig AI indicates this is an incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be key of" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that this is an erroneous construction. The intended meaning is to express that something is essential or crucial, but the correct way to convey this is by using phrases such as "be key to", "be crucial for", or "be essential to". While the phrase appears across various source types, including news, wikis, and scientific articles, this does not validate its usage; it highlights the importance of using correct grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be crucial for

Emphasizes the essential nature of something, similar to 'be key' but with stronger implications of necessity.

be essential to

Highlights the indispensable quality of something, akin to 'be key' but focusing on fundamental importance.

be vital for

Stresses the life-sustaining or critical role of something, closely related to 'be key' in terms of significance.

be important for

Indicates the significance of something, a more general alternative to 'be key'.

be significant for

Highlights the noteworthiness of something, similar to 'be key' but focusing on its impact or consequence.

be fundamental to

Emphasizes the foundational aspect of something, akin to 'be key' but stressing its role as a base or core element.

be central to

Indicates that something is at the heart of the matter, closely related to 'be key' in terms of prominence and relevance.

be integral to

Highlights the necessary part of a whole.

be critical to

Suggests that something is extremely important and could make or break a situation.

play a key role in

Indicates that something has a vital part in achieving success.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something is essential: "be key of" or "be key to"?

The correct phrase is "be key to". The phrase "be key of" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. For example, instead of "Teamwork is key of our success", use "Teamwork is "key to" our success".

What can I use instead of the phrase "be key of"?

Since "be key of" isn't correct, you can use options such as "be essential to", "be crucial for", or "be vital for" depending on the context. These alternatives are grammatically sound and widely accepted.

How can I ensure I'm using the right preposition after "key"?

Always double-check the context. "Key to" is used to indicate something essential for achieving a goal, while "key for" can also be suitable, but not "key of". If in doubt, rephrase the sentence to use alternatives like "crucial for" or "essential to".

Is there a difference in meaning between "be key to" and "be important for"?

While both indicate significance, "be key to" suggests something is indispensable for success, whereas "be important for" simply means something has a significant impact. "Be key to" conveys a stronger sense of necessity and criticality.