catalytic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catalytic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes or accelerates a reaction or change, often in a chemical or metaphorical context. Example: "The new policy had a catalytic effect on the company's growth, leading to increased productivity and innovation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Platinum refiner Johnson Matthey dropped 102p to £23.06 as third quarter profits fell 19% to £84.3m, hit by lower sales of catalytic converters for car exhaust systems in Europe and weak demand in Japan.

The Guardian - Business

While at UEA, his pioneering research shaped the emergent field of surface chemistry – identifying chemical catalytic reactions on crystallographically defined single-crystal metal surfaces, with vital applications in semiconducting, medicine and nanotechnology.

The Guardian

But neither he nor the charismatic Correa is likely to be able to match Chávez's catalytic regional role.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We believe this alliance offers the best philanthropic return on investment today, Our role will be a catalytic one – to drive business, industry by industry, to a tipping point where choosing anything but the clean option won't make good business sense.

The Guardian

It may seem obvious, but simply establishing an empowered regulatory authority, with a clear mandate, can have a positive and catalytic impact on delivering water services.

The Guardian

Five rare-earth metals (dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium), for example, possess unique magnetic, catalytic and luminescent properties that make wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and efficient lighting possible.

The Economist

It will be no surprise if, thanks to the catalytic power of the bubble and market meltdown, the distinctions between the two camps disappear and a new paradigm emerges.One economist leading the effort to define that new paradigm is Andrew Lo, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who sees merit in both the rational and behavioural views.

The Economist

Siluria is developing a catalytic process to turn methane, the principal component of natural gas, into petrol (gasoline) for cars.

The Economist

Sales of South African cars and components, such as catalytic converters, have already surged in America in the past three years.Expansion is likely to continue for years.

The Economist

And if the shape imposed is one which stops the protein carrying out its normal function, the result is a disease.How and why this catalytic property evolved is unclear.

The Economist

The lack of {+7}Li, meanwhile, has been blamed on over-hungry nuclear reactions in stellar cores.Dr Pospelov's catalytic mechanism, by contrast, explains both discrepancies in one fell swoop.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "catalytic", ensure the context clearly indicates what process or change is being accelerated or initiated. This avoids ambiguity and highlights the impact of the catalytic element.

Common error

Avoid overusing "catalytic" to describe minor or insignificant changes. A "catalytic" event should precipitate a noticeable and relatively rapid transformation.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "catalytic" primarily functions to describe something that acts as a catalyst, either in a literal chemical sense or metaphorically to indicate something that accelerates or initiates a process. Ludwig examples show uses in contexts like "catalytic converters" or a "catalytic role". Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is used correctly in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "catalytic" is commonly used to describe something that initiates or accelerates a reaction, process, or change. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this term is correctly used in written English. It frequently appears in contexts related to news, science, and formal writing. Key examples include "catalytic converters" in automotive technology and "catalytic roles" in economic or social changes. Alternative phrases like "accelerating", "transformative", and "instrumental" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. When using "catalytic", ensure that the context clearly defines what process or change is being influenced to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accelerating

Focuses on speeding up a process, similar to "catalytic" in promoting change, but emphasizes the increased pace.

transformative

Emphasizes the extent of change, implying a significant alteration similar to a "catalytic" influence.

instrumental

Highlights the importance of something in achieving a result, like a "catalytic" factor enables a reaction.

facilitating

Focuses on making a process easier or more likely to happen, similar to "catalytic" in promoting reactions.

driving

Suggests a strong influence that propels something forward, akin to the impetus a "catalytic" element provides.

pivotal

Highlights the critical importance of something, suggesting it is essential for a turning point or change, much like a "catalytic" event.

key

Emphasizes the essential nature of something, indicating its importance in enabling a process, similar to a "catalytic" agent.

critical

Highlights the decisive importance of something, implying it is essential for success or a turning point, much like a "catalytic" event.

essential

Highlights the indispensable nature of something, indicating its importance in enabling a process, similar to a "catalytic" agent.

triggering

Emphasizes the initiating action, focusing on starting a process or change, like a "catalytic" event sets off a chain reaction.

FAQs

How can I use "catalytic" in a sentence?

The word "catalytic" is used to describe something that causes or accelerates a reaction or change. For example: "The discovery of the new enzyme had a catalytic effect on the development of new drugs."

What can I say instead of "catalytic"?

You can use alternatives like "accelerating", "transformative", or "instrumental" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "catalytic effect" or "catalyst effect"?

The correct phrase is "catalytic effect". "Catalyst" is the noun that refers to the substance that causes the reaction, while "catalytic" is the adjective describing the effect or properties related to a catalyst.

What is a "catalytic converter"?

A "catalytic converter" is a device used in vehicles to reduce the toxicity of emissions by using a catalyst to stimulate a chemical reaction that converts pollutants into less harmful substances.