critical to know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "critical to know" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the importance of certain information that one should be aware of. Example: "It is critical to know the safety procedures before operating the machinery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Finally, when you are pitching, it's critical to know your audience.

The New York Times

"It's really critical to know how that trail is going to affect the experience of being on the Merritt Parkway.

The New York Times

To determine how big the spillway needs to be, it is critical to know how much water might be impounded behind the dam each year.

The New York Times - Science

Clearly, it is critical to know the answer, which is why the Environmental Defenses Fund is currently participating in a study that is expected to provide one.

The New York Times

There was consensus from the panel that it is critical to know what your complete value chain and related impacts actually are: mapping 'farm to folk'.

The Guardian

For those buying in a building under construction, Mr. Weinstein said, it is critical to know what the apartment is actually going to look like.

The New York Times

From an investment perspective it's less critical to know the answer — more diverse companies have better performance regardless of the causality".

The New York Times

"Life is full of surprises like jury duty, and when you're surprised is when it becomes critical to know exactly what you're not going to be doing when you're doing jury duty," Mr. Allen said.

The New York Times

It is critical to know which property package would be applicable for one's computation.

Chemical Engineering Process Simulation

"Just as with cars, it's critical to know the fuel efficiency of black holes," Allen adds.

Science Magazine

For effective diagnostic monitoring, it is critical to know the inherent feature variation resulting from the instrumentation and data processing.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "critical to know", ensure the information you're highlighting is genuinely essential for the reader's understanding or decision-making. Avoid overusing the phrase, as it can lose its impact if applied to trivial details.

Common error

Don't use "critical to know" when the information is merely helpful or interesting, but not fundamentally necessary. Overstating the importance can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "critical to know" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying an implied or stated noun (such as 'information' or 'aspect'). It emphasizes the necessity and importance of understanding or being aware of something. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "critical to know" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that serves to emphasize the importance of specific information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English and is intended to highlight essential elements for decision-making or understanding. Its usage spans various contexts, including science, news media, and business, lending it a neutral to professional tone. While alternatives like "essential to understand" or "vital to comprehend" can be used, it's important to reserve "critical to know" for situations where the information truly warrants such emphasis, avoiding overuse to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential to understand

Replaces "critical" with "essential", emphasizing necessity but with a slightly different tone.

vital to comprehend

Substitutes "critical" with "vital" and "know" with "comprehend", suggesting a deeper level of understanding is needed.

important to realize

Shifts the focus to realization, implying a prior lack of awareness.

imperative to recognize

Replaces "critical" with "imperative", indicating a command or urgent need for recognition.

necessary to ascertain

Uses "necessary" instead of "critical" and "ascertain" for "know", suggesting a need for verification or confirmation.

crucial to acknowledge

Emphasizes the need to acknowledge something, highlighting its significance.

fundamental to grasp

Suggests that understanding something is foundational for further learning or progress.

key to understanding

Focuses on the idea that knowing something unlocks broader understanding.

paramount to appreciate

Highlights the importance of appreciating or valuing something, rather than just knowing it.

significant to consider

Emphasizes the importance of giving something careful thought and attention.

FAQs

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

You can use "critical to know" to emphasize the importance of a piece of information. For example: "It is "critical to know" the safety procedures before operating this machinery."

What's a more formal alternative to "critical to know"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "essential to understand" or "imperative to recognize" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "it is" before "critical to know"?

While "it is" is a common construction, you can sometimes omit it for brevity, especially in headings or lists. For example, "Critical to know: The project deadline."

What is the difference between "important to know" and "critical to know"?

"Important to know" suggests that the information is valuable or relevant. "Critical to know", on the other hand, indicates that the information is absolutely essential and potentially decisive.