becoming critical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "becoming critical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or condition that is increasingly important or urgent. Example: "As the deadline approaches, the project's status is becoming critical, and we need to address the issues immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The situation for Venice, meanwhile, is becoming critical.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We see more and more people becoming critical of NUG.

Independent

In this context, talent management and leadership are becoming critical capabilities.

The Guardian

Where payment used to be an afterthought, it's now becoming critical to the experience itself.

Harvard Business Review

Loop transformations are becoming critical to exploiting parallelism and data locality in parallelizing and optimizing compilers.

Cornell University

The fossil record is becoming critical in guiding nature into the future," Barnosky said.

University of California, Berkeley

Classifying online network traffic is becoming critical in network management and security.

Computer Communications

Firm integrative capability (FIC) is becoming critical for firms facing and winning fierce competition.

Systems Engineering Procedia

Therefore, structural design that takes into account the potential for progressive collapse is becoming critical.

Case Studies in Structural Engineering

Perhaps this is because he knows that in Sweden the debate on free schools is becoming critical.

The Guardian

By late 2000, according to documents and testimony presented in the Andersen trial, the circumstances were becoming critical.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "becoming critical", ensure the context clearly indicates what is increasing in importance or urgency. Provide specific details to emphasize the significance of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "becoming critical" as a generic intensifier. Always specify why something is becoming critical and what the potential consequences are if it's not addressed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becoming critical" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe a subject's state or condition as it transitions to a more crucial or urgent phase. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "becoming critical" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that indicates an escalating state of importance or urgency. As confirmed by Ludwig, this expression is suitable for a variety of contexts, including science, news, and business. While versatile, it's important to provide context and clarity when using this phrase to ensure its significance is well understood. Remember to avoid overuse and to always specify what is "becoming critical" and why. Semantically related alternatives include "growing crucial", "turning vital", and "getting urgent", each offering a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing crucial

Emphasizes the gradual increase in importance, similar to "becoming critical".

turning vital

Focuses on the transformation into something essential or indispensable.

getting urgent

Highlights the time-sensitive nature of the situation.

proving essential

Underscores the demonstration of necessity or indispensability.

assuming importance

Highlights the act of taking on or acquiring significance.

gaining prominence

Focuses on the increase in visibility and significance.

evolving crucial

Implies a gradual development into a critical state.

escalating urgently

Emphasizes the rising intensity and time-sensitivity.

increasingly pivotal

Highlights the growing role as a key factor or turning point.

maturing critical

Suggests the process of fully developing into a critical phase.

FAQs

How can I use "becoming critical" in a sentence?

You can use "becoming critical" to describe situations or factors that are increasingly important or urgent. For example, "As resources dwindle, water conservation is "becoming critical"."

What are some alternatives to "becoming critical"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "growing crucial", "turning vital", or "getting urgent".

Is it better to use "become critical" or "becoming critical"?

"Become critical" indicates a shift to a critical state, while "becoming critical" implies a process of gradually approaching that state. The choice depends on whether you're describing a sudden change or a gradual progression.

What makes something "becoming critical" rather than simply being important?

Something "becoming critical" suggests a situation where its importance is escalating, often due to changing circumstances or increasing risks. It implies a sense of urgency that mere importance might not convey.