essence of the case

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essence of the case" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the fundamental nature or key aspects of a legal case or situation. Example: "In order to understand the ruling, we must first grasp the essence of the case presented before the court."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A. Senior White House officials say the essence of the case should take 60 to 90 days.

The New York Times

Nothing in the ill-tempered tweets reveals any hint of anti-Muslim bigotry, which is the essence of the case against his immigration policies.

The Washington Post

The essence of the case is whether workers who find jobs on Airtasker are independent contractors, running their own businesses, or are really disguised employees.

The Guardian

Mr. Mowry's lawyer, Alan A. Heller, of Heller, Horowitz & Feit in Manhattan, said that the essence of the case was copyright infringement.

The New York Times

It is the misstatement that is the essence of the case Republicans are putting before American voters: That President Obama has made the economy worse.

The New York Times

Bassem Tamimi's lawyer, Labib Habib, said that the testimony of the two minors formed "the essence of the case" against his client.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"The essence of this case is that those who sit on the board of a not-for-profit have a fiduciary duty to that not-for-profit, and any self-dealing is wrong, whether it is Hale House, whether it is Mr. Boyle," Mr. Spitzer said.

The New York Times

That's the essence of this case". Reached by telephone, Shannon, who said he left KRXO two years ago, declined to comment on his reasons for reading the posting.

The New York Times

"The essence of this case is that all investors in a mutual fund — large or small, wealthy or not — are entitled to a level playing field," Randall R. Lee, director of the S.E.C.'s Los Angeles office, said in a statement.

The New York Times

Justice Spinner also appointed himself, in essence, chaperon of the case: it seems he doesn't trust the town and the coalition to back off.

The New York Times

The essence of the Democratic case against Mr Bush has always been that he is too stupid and lazy to be president.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or complex matters, use "essence of the case" to clearly and concisely communicate the most important aspect or central theme. This helps readers quickly grasp the core issue without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

Common error

Avoid using overly technical or legal jargon when explaining the "essence of the case". The goal is to simplify and clarify, not to confuse the reader with complex language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essence of the case" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the core, most important, or fundamental aspect of a legal or debated matter, as illustrated in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "essence of the case" is a noun phrase used to denote the most crucial aspects of a legal or debated matter. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While primarily found in news and scientific sources, it maintains a neutral to formal register. For those seeking alternatives, phrases like "nub of the case" or "heart of the case" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, clarity and conciseness are key to effectively communicating the core issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nub of the case

Replaces 'essence' with 'nub', suggesting the central point but slightly less formal.

heart of the case

Uses 'heart' instead of 'essence', conveying the core or most vital part.

crux of the case

Replaces 'essence' with 'crux', emphasizing the decisive point.

gist of the case

Emphasizes the general meaning or main point, making it slightly less formal.

core of the case

Uses 'core' as a direct synonym for 'essence', highlighting the fundamental aspect.

thrust of the case

Focuses on the main force or direction of the argument, changing the emphasis.

central point of the case

More descriptive, specifying that it's the 'central point' rather than just the essence.

key issue of the case

Highlights the 'key issue', focusing on the most important problem or question.

main substance of the case

Replaces 'essence' with 'main substance', making it slightly more formal.

fundamental nature of the case

Uses a more descriptive and formal phrasing, emphasizing the 'fundamental nature'.

FAQs

What does "essence of the case" mean?

The "essence of the case" refers to the most important aspects, central themes, or fundamental points that define a particular legal matter, argument, or situation.

How can I use "essence of the case" in a sentence?

You can use "essence of the case" to highlight the core argument or central issue, such as: "The "heart of the case" rests on proving negligence."

What are some alternatives to "essence of the case"?

Alternatives include "nub of the case", "heart of the case", or "crux of the case", which all convey the main or most important aspect of a matter.

Is "essence of the case" formal or informal language?

The phrase "essence of the case" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, but it is often used in legal or professional settings. Less formal alternatives, such as "gist of the case", may be used in more casual conversations.