criticality

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "criticality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the importance or seriousness of a situation. For example: "The criticality of the situation required us to act quickly and decisively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But is putting a fist in Pakistan's chest really going to solve the "criticality" issue?

The New York Times

Furthermore, such critical states seem to arise naturally in many complex systems—hence the idea of "self-organised criticality".So far, so good.

The Economist

The rules in force at the plant made criticality impossible, they insisted.

The Economist

The idea that self-organised criticality is the "science of history" is the spine of the entire book, which opens with a description of the events that precipitated the first world war.

The Economist

But while Mr Buchanan explains all this well, he also makes a sweeping claim: that human society too is an example of self-organised criticality, and that it is therefore possible to use science to explain the patterns of history.

The Economist

It sets out to explain a concept called "self-organised criticality".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

But even in their most dire assessments, some experts had not expected even bursts of re-criticality to occur, because it was unlikely that the fuel would melt in just the right way — and that another ingredient, water, would be present in just the right amounts — to allow for any nuclear reaction.

The New York Times

In an e-mail, Dr. Giudice wrote, "Why do we happen to live at the edge of collapse?" He went on, "In my view, the message about near-criticality of the universe is the most important thing we have learned from the discovery of the Higgs boson so far".

The New York Times - Science

A former nuclear engineer with three decades of experience at a major engineering firm said that sustained re-criticality remained highly unlikely.

The New York Times

Some experts had not expected even bursts of re-criticality to occur, because it was unlikely that the fuel would melt in just the right way — and that another ingredient, water, would be present in just the right amounts — to allow for any nuclear reaction.

The New York Times

Junichi Matsumoto, a Tokyo Electric spokesman, acknowledged episodes of fission, telling a news conference: "There is a possibility that certain conditions came together temporarily that were conducive to re-criticality," and that the measurements indicated a burst that occurred at a slightly higher rate than prior cases.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, especially concerning nuclear reactors, be explicit about whether you're referring to the state of being critical or the conditions required to achieve it.

Common error

Avoid using "criticality" in contexts where the general meaning of importance is intended but the technical nuclear physics definition might be inferred by the audience. Instead, opt for clearer synonyms like "importance" or "seriousness" to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "criticality" is as a noun, representing the state or quality of being critical. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it can refer to the importance of something or the state of a nuclear reaction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "criticality" functions as a noun used to denote the state of being critical, with applications ranging from general importance to technical nuclear processes. According to Ludwig, its usage is grammatically sound and most frequent in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Scientific sources. While the term is considered correct and widely applicable, being mindful of the specific context – whether it pertains to general significance or nuclear physics – is crucial to prevent potential ambiguity. When the general sense of "importance" is intended, synonyms may serve as clearer alternatives. Finally, Ludwig AI affirms the correctness and usability of "criticality" in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

importance

Focuses on the significance or value of something.

significance

Highlights the notable quality or importance of something.

seriousness

Emphasizes the grave or critical nature of a situation.

urgency

Conveys the need for immediate action or attention.

cruciality

Highlights the decisive or essential nature of something.

gravity

Emphasizes the weight or seriousness of a situation.

severity

Focuses on the intensity or harshness of something.

exigency

Highlights the pressing or urgent nature of a situation.

momentousness

Emphasizes the historical or far-reaching significance of something.

paramount importance

Emphasizes the supreme importance or significance.

FAQs

How is "criticality" used in the context of nuclear physics?

In nuclear physics, "criticality" refers to the state where a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining. It's a crucial concept in reactor operation and nuclear safety.

What can I say instead of "criticality" when discussing general importance?

You can use alternatives like "importance", "significance", or "seriousness" depending on the context.

Is "criticality" always related to negative situations?

Not necessarily. While "criticality" can refer to dangerous situations (like a nuclear accident), it can also simply describe the state of being essential or crucial for success.

Which is the correct form, "criticality" or "criticalness"?

"Criticality" and "criticalness" are both valid, though "criticality" is more commonly used. They both refer to the state of being critical.