critical sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "critical sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to highlight a sentence that is essential or pivotal to understanding a concept or argument. Example: "In the analysis of the text, the critical sentence reveals the author's main argument and sets the tone for the entire piece."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The fMRI images acquired during the reading of the critical sentence revealed a selective response of the brain to the two types of nonliteral utterances.

Neuropsychologia

"The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payments of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion," the critical sentence says, "shall not be questioned".

The New York Times

The scores in the anaphor comprehension questions presented after the text confirmed that readers with ID are affected by the gender inconsistency but they are unable to explicitly report it and recover from it, as the number of re-fixations after reading the critical sentence suggests.

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Critical sentence: The prospect of a citizen suppressing his bigoted beliefs for fear that evidence of those beliefs will be introduced against him at trial if he commits a serious offense against person or property is too speculative a hypothesis to support this claim.

Forbes

The most critical sentence in the aforementioned comment to UVTA § 4(a) is not the one about self-settled trusts, but this line: "[T]here is no requirement in § 4(a)(1) that the intent referred to be directed at a creditor existing or identified at the time of transfer or incurrence". That is the law, and that has been the law for over four centuries.

Forbes

Although the additionally provided acoustic analyses allow for a loose mapping of the critical sentence positions (i.e. noun and verb) with the ERP effects, the exact time course of the evoked responses are not unambiguous.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

P249 Ten critical sentences you have already heard in the Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department, their real meanings and consequences.

Annals of Intensive Care

The program detects the topic of a text and on that basis applies particular metrics to determine, say, if numbers are more important than descriptive words, and extracts critical sentences accordingly.

Forbes

But this is the critical sentencing or penalty phase of his trial, where the prosecution hopes to get the 21-year-old put on death row by having victims and their families testify that he's essentially a monster.

Vice

Although critical of sentence, Rosen said Monday that he does not believe Persky should be removed from his judgeship.

Los Angeles Times

The most critical time point was at 1300 ms after sentence onset.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "critical sentence" to pinpoint the exact phrase that determines the meaning of a complex legal or philosophical argument.

Common error

Avoid using "critical sentence" when a simpler term like "important point" would suffice. Save it for instances where the sentence truly holds pivotal significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "critical sentence" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific sentence within a larger text or discourse that holds significant importance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "critical sentence" denotes a sentence that is essential for understanding a text or argument. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, recommending it for contexts where highlighting key information is crucial. While common across various domains like news, science, and academia, it's important to reserve its use for truly pivotal sentences to avoid diluting its impact. Consider alternatives like "important sentence" or "key sentence" for simpler contexts. By understanding its function, register, and appropriate usage, you can effectively leverage the phrase "critical sentence" to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Key sentence

This option is shorter and indicates the sentence is essential for understanding.

Important sentence

This alternative emphasizes the significance of the sentence.

Pivotal sentence

This alternative highlights the turning-point nature of the sentence.

Essential sentence

This emphasizes that the sentence is indispensable.

Crucial sentence

Highlights the importance of the sentence to the matter at hand.

Vital sentence

Similar to essential, but with a slightly stronger connotation of necessity.

Significant sentence

Emphasizes the notable impact or meaning of the sentence.

Central sentence

Indicates the sentence is at the core of the topic.

Decisive sentence

Emphasizes the sentence's role in making a final determination.

Consequential sentence

This underlines the sentence's impact on subsequent events or understanding.

FAQs

What does "critical sentence" mean?

A "critical sentence" is a sentence that is essential for understanding a text, argument, or concept. It often encapsulates the main idea or a key turning point.

What can I say instead of "critical sentence"?

You can use alternatives like "important sentence", "key sentence", or "pivotal sentence" depending on the context.

How do I identify the "critical sentence" in a paragraph?

Look for the sentence that most directly expresses the main point, introduces a key concept, or provides essential context for the rest of the paragraph. Often, it's the sentence that, if removed, would significantly alter the meaning of the passage.

Is it appropriate to use the phrase "critical sentence" in formal writing?

Yes, "critical sentence" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in academic or analytical contexts where precise language is necessary. Just be sure that the sentence you're labeling as such truly warrants the designation.