essential notion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essential notion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a fundamental idea or concept that is crucial to understanding a topic or argument. Example: "The essential notion of freedom is central to our discussion on human rights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The programs get to the most essential notion of being human".

The New York Times - Arts

The government's abolition of legal aid for whole categories of cases is a direct assault on the essential notion that one law covers us all.

The Guardian - Opinion

The essential notion — that feminization is civilization, niceness the precondition for mind — is so broadly pleasing to our era that it ought to make us just a bit suspicious.

The New Yorker

But the essential notion of having an integrated system of healthcare – a system that recognizes the spectrum of needs associated with mental disorders, from family therapy to medication to supported housing – is too important to relinquish.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a naturalized American who recalls the 1,000 faces in the room where I swore the oath of allegiance and how they mapped the world and yet shared some essential notion of humanity, I confess to the convert's zeal.

The New York Times

The Latin root "terrere" means "to cause to tremble," and one essential notion in most definitions of terrorism is that it seeks to frighten the enemy, as well as to inspire allies.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Presents essential notions of probability and statistics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Essential notions of racial, sexual and national identity are teased, deflated, complicated.

The New York Times

The elusive, essential notions of home and away, of family and where you belong, ran underneath another programme this week.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

More essential notions were conveniently ignored such as the precepts of social justice, political dissent, and the moral duty for intellectuals to criticise the ruler".

The Economist

Data Analysis in Social Science: Introduces learners to the essential notions of probability and statistics, covering techniques in modern data analysis: estimation, regression and econometrics, prediction, experimental design, randomized control trials (and A/B testing), machine learning, and data visualization.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "essential notion" when you want to emphasize the fundamental and indispensable nature of an idea. It is suitable for academic, formal and analytical writing.

Common error

Avoid using "essential notion" in casual or informal conversations, as it can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "main idea" or "basic concept" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essential notion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig indicates it refers to a fundamental or indispensable idea.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "essential notion" is a grammatically correct noun phrase that emphasizes the fundamental and indispensable nature of an idea. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is best suited for formal contexts such as academic, scientific, and analytical writing. While it's not incorrect to use in less formal contexts, it is important to consider the setting and adjust the language accordingly. When writing in environments with less formality, it may be best to go with similar alternatives like "core idea", "basic principle", or "key concept".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental concept

Replaces "essential" with "fundamental", emphasizing the basic and foundational nature of the concept.

core idea

Uses "core" instead of "essential", highlighting the central and most important idea.

foundational concept

Emphasizes the base or foundation upon which other ideas are built.

basic principle

Substitutes "notion" with "principle", suggesting a foundational rule or belief.

key concept

Replaces "essential" with "key", focusing on the important and crucial aspect of the concept.

central tenet

Uses "tenet" instead of "notion", implying a core belief or doctrine.

critical element

Replaces "essential" with "critical", focusing on the high importance of the element.

underlying idea

Replaces "essential" with "underlying", emphasizing the foundational nature of the idea.

primary element

Focuses on the elemental nature of the notion, highlighting its importance as a building block.

indispensable idea

Highlights the idea's necessity and irreplaceability.

FAQs

How can I use "essential notion" in a sentence?

You can use "essential notion" to highlight a fundamental idea or concept. For instance, "The "fundamental concept" of justice is fairness and equality."

What's a simpler way to say "essential notion"?

Alternatives include "core idea", "basic principle", or "key concept", depending on the context.

Is "essential notion" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "essential notion" is well-suited for formal writing, especially in academic or analytical contexts where you need to emphasize the fundamental nature of an idea. However be aware of the "foundational concept", and when it's time to use one, or another.

What is the difference between "essential notion" and "important idea"?

"Essential notion" emphasizes the fundamental and indispensable nature of an idea, while "important idea" simply highlights its significance. You can chose one or the other depending on "primary element" of the idea.