constitutive of

USAGE SUMMARY

"constitutive of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when emphasizing that something is essential for the makeup or construction of something else. For example, "The efficiency of the system is constituted of good communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Singing is a human capacity that seems absolutely natural and even constitutive of our humanity.

The Guardian - Books

"This threat of scandal," as he puts it, "is constitutive of the cultural prize".

The New Yorker

Actually, there may be something to the idea that consciousness is everywhere, and is somehow constitutive of the physical universe.

The Guardian - Books

But the effort to understand human nature is itself constitutive of what makes a good and worthwhile life.

The Guardian - Opinion

And why should labour be more constitutive of a work of art today than it was for Leonardo da Vinci?

The Guardian

"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

Language is a profoundly mysterious technology, so constitutive of the human mind that we can only get glimpses, from inside the fishbowl of consciousness, of how it works.

The New Yorker

Behavior, then, that seemed constitutive of being a chimpanzee proved amenable, with isolation, the right environment, and enough time, to radical change.

The New Yorker

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

He depicts that battle with care and cleverness but without imagining that what goes through a person's mind is as real, as constitutive of the action, as what's visible from the outside.

The New Yorker

In the case of knowledge in formal domains (mathematics and logic), if "knowledge" is the right term, the luxury is that the justification procedures are themselves constitutive of what is known.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "constitutive of" when you want to emphasize that something is not just a part of something else, but that it fundamentally defines or shapes it. For example, 'Trust is constitutive of a healthy relationship'.

Common error

Avoid using "constitutive of" when you simply mean 'part of' or 'related to'. "Constitutive of" implies a deeper, more essential relationship where the element in question helps define the whole. For example, don't say "Ingredients are constitutive of a cake" when you can simply state "Ingredients are part of a cake."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constitutive of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating that something is an essential and defining element of something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it emphasizes the fundamental nature of the relationship. The examples showcase this function across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "constitutive of" is a prepositional phrase used to emphasize that something is an essential, defining component of something else. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. With a source quality score of 88, its frequency across diverse contexts like science, news, and media underscores its versatility. When using "constitutive of", it is important to make sure that you are conveying an element that is essential and defining, and not simply a part of or associated with something. Consider alternative phrases like "essential to" or "integral to" if the relationship is less defining. The phrase's prevalence in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New Yorker reinforces its credibility in formal and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Integral to

Stresses the importance of something being a necessary part of a whole, shifting the focus from composition to importance.

Essential to

Highlights the necessity of something, focusing on its importance rather than its role in composition.

Fundamental to

Highlights the foundational aspect of something, emphasizing its role as a base or core element.

Constituting of

Describes the act of forming or creating something, focusing on the process rather than the inherent nature.

Composition of

Refers to the elements or parts that make up something, focusing on the components rather than their essential nature.

Component of

Refers to something as being a constituent piece of a larger entity, less emphatic than 'constitutive'.

Composition of

Indicates the arrangement of elements that form something, differing by emphasizing arrangement over the fundamental essence.

Element of

Indicates that something is a basic part of a whole, focusing on its elemental nature rather than its essential role.

Forming of

Emphasizes the act of creating or shaping something, rather than its essential components.

Part of

Indicates that something is an element of a larger whole, a more general relationship than being constitutive.

FAQs

How do I use "constitutive of" in a sentence?

Use "constitutive of" to indicate that something is an essential or defining component of something else. For example, "Open communication is "constitutive of" a healthy relationship".

What can I say instead of "constitutive of"?

You can use alternatives such as "essential to", "integral to", or "fundamental to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "constituted by" instead of "constitutive of"?

While both phrases relate to composition, "constituted by" means 'formed or made up of', whereas ""constitutive of"" means 'essential or defining component of'. They are not always interchangeable.

What's the difference between "constitutive of" and "component of"?

"Constitutive of" implies that something is essential to the nature or identity of something else, while "component of" simply means it is a part of it. The former suggests a more fundamental and defining relationship.