critical to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "critical to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is essential or of great importance to a particular situation or outcome. Example: "Effective communication is critical to the success of any team project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's critical to us".

The New York Times

This was critical to Harvey.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It's critical to our success.

Independent

They are considered critical to pain treatment.

The New York Times - Health

Kandahar is critical to the Taliban.

The New Yorker

"Technology is critical to innovation, productivity, competitiveness.

The New York Times

But it seemed critical to her.

The New York Times

This is so fundamentally critical to us.

Independent

"It is critical to Ohio's economy".

The New York Times

It's too critical to too many.

The New Yorker

Timing is critical to public perception.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "critical to", ensure the context clearly establishes what is dependent on the critical element. Clarity prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "critical to" in conjunction with other words that already imply criticality, such as "absolutely essential" or "vitally important". Choose one for concise writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "critical to" functions as a prepositional adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that something is essential or of utmost importance to the noun it modifies. Ludwig AI examples show it linking a subject to its necessary condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "critical to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is essential or indispensable. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples reveals its prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. While highly versatile, writers should avoid redundant phrasing and ensure clarity in establishing the relationship between the critical element and the outcome. Alternatives such as "essential for" and "vital to" can offer subtle variations in emphasis. The frequency and source diversity confirm that "critical to" is a valuable addition to any writer's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential for

Replaces "critical" with "essential", emphasizing necessity.

vital to

Substitutes "critical" with "vital", highlighting the importance.

indispensable to

Replaces "critical" with "indispensable", stressing that something is absolutely necessary.

crucial for

Substitutes "critical" with "crucial", indicating a decisive importance.

key to

Uses "key" to suggest that something unlocks or enables success.

fundamental to

Replaces "critical" with "fundamental", pointing to a foundational element.

of utmost importance to

Emphasizes the high level of importance using a longer phrase.

a necessity for

Focuses on the aspect of necessity rather than criticality.

integral to

Highlights that something is an essential part of a whole.

significant to

Indicates a considerable degree of importance or impact.

FAQs

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

Use "critical to" to emphasize that something is essential or necessary for a particular outcome. For example, "Effective communication is "critical to" the success of the project".

What can I say instead of "critical to"?

You can use alternatives like "essential for", "vital to", or "indispensable to" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between ""critical to"" and "important to"?

"Critical to" suggests something is absolutely necessary and without it, success is unlikely, while "important to" simply means something is significant or has value.

Can "critical to" be used in formal writing?

Yes, ""critical to"" is suitable for both formal and informal writing as it is a standard and widely understood phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.