be key to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be key to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is essential or critical for achieving a goal or result. For example: "Having a strong work ethic will be key to succeeding in this job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Publications may be key to winning promotion.

The Guardian

"It will be key to make no mistakes," Sarrazin acknowledged.

The Guardian - Sport

His pairing here will be key to the team's performance.

The Guardian - Sport

This may be key to Putin's continued enthusiasm for Kadyrov.

The Guardian

Green said this could be key to reducing emissions further.

The Guardian

That appointment will be key to City's future.

The Guardian - Sport

Our ability to share will be key to our survival.

The Guardian

Magic mushroom ingredient psilocybin could be key to treating depression.

The Guardian

Policies encouraging innovation would be key to this, he said.

The Guardian

This ethos could be key to ending the factory closures.

The Guardian

Finding the black boxes will be key to the investigation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specifically mention why something is "key to" success. For instance, instead of just stating 'Teamwork will "be key to" success,' specify, 'Teamwork, through coordinated effort and shared expertise, will "be key to" success.'

Common error

Avoid using "be key to" in vague or unsubstantiated statements. For instance, saying 'Education will "be key to" a better future' is too broad. Instead, specify which aspects of education are crucial and how they contribute to a better future.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be key to" functions as a predicate adjective, highlighting the essential nature of a subject in relation to achieving a particular result or outcome. This usage is supported by Ludwig's examples, which consistently demonstrate its role in emphasizing critical factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be key to" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the critical importance of a factor in achieving a specific outcome. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While alternatives like "be essential for" and "be crucial for" exist, "be key to" maintains a neutral register suitable for most writing scenarios. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifically stating the relationship between the key element and the desired result.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be essential for

This alternative emphasizes the necessity of something for a specific purpose.

be crucial for

This alternative highlights the critical nature of something.

be vital for

This alternative stresses the importance of something for survival or success.

be indispensable for

This alternative suggests that something is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

be paramount for

This alternative emphasizes the supreme importance of something.

be fundamental to

This alternative highlights the foundational aspect of something.

be integral to

This alternative indicates that something is an essential part of a whole.

be significant for

This alternative suggests that something is important and noteworthy.

be instrumental in

This alternative highlights the role of something as a means to achieve a result.

play a critical role in

This alternative focuses on the active part that something has in a process.

FAQs

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

Use "be key to" to emphasize that something is essential or critical for achieving a particular outcome. For example, "Strong communication skills will "be key to" success in this role."

What are some alternatives to "be key to"?

You can use alternatives such as "be essential for", "be crucial for", or "be vital for" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "be key to" or "be essential to"?

"Be essential to" is generally considered more formal than "be key to". Both are acceptable in professional writing, but "be essential to" may be preferred in highly formal contexts.

What's the difference between "be key to" and "be important to"?

"Be key to" implies that something is absolutely necessary for success, while "be important to" suggests that something has significance but isn't necessarily critical. Consider, "Dedication will "be key to" winning the competition" versus "Dedication will "be important to" enjoying the process".