essential principles

USAGE SUMMARY

"essential principles" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to the fundamental or most important rules or beliefs that guide someone or something. Example: The company's success is built on its essential principles of honesty, integrity, and quality. Here, "essential principles" is used to describe the core values or principles that are crucial to the company's success.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

PPI data provide us the good opportunity to systematically analyze the structure of a large living system and also allow us to use it to understand essential principles like essentiality, genetic interactions, functions, functional modules, protein complexes and cellular pathways.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

Good potato salad depends on a couple of essential principles.

The New York Times

Irony and paradox were essential principles of literary form.

The New Yorker

Ms. Laybourne said she had learned three essential principles on her road to success.

The New York Times

Those trying to grasp the essential principles of Cameron's rule find everything turns to dust in their hands.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Kagan is wrong to think that only ends, not means, amount to fundamental, or at least essential, principles.

The New York Times - Magazine

Their residences, which seem the antithesis of one another, are in reality living out the same essential principles.

The Guardian - Opinion

President Hollande says France would refuse "the undermining of the essential principles of our agriculture, our culture, of mutual access to public markets".

The Guardian - Opinion

Her favorite game was golf because its essential principles consisted of a stick, a small ball, and a state of mind.

The Guardian - Books

On both sides, however, there are double standards and the kind of contradiction evident in Khomeini's violation of the essential principles of his mentor, Mulla Sadra.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the West, two essential principles of Hellenic and Christian political philosophy were transmitted, if only in elementary definitions, in rudimentary encyclopaedias.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly define what these "essential principles" are in your writing. Provide context and examples to illustrate their importance and application.

Common error

Avoid using "essential principles" as a vague substitute for specific details. Always ensure that the principles are clearly articulated and not just implied. Otherwise, it weakens your argument and leaves the reader guessing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essential principles" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it's a correct and commonly used phrase. Examples show it defining core concepts across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

27%

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "essential principles" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that highlights fundamental concepts, according to Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase, serving to emphasize the indispensable nature of certain rules or beliefs. The register is generally professional due to its prevalence in academic, scientific, and business contexts. To ensure clarity and impact, clearly define the principles in question, avoiding vague or generic usage. While alternatives like "core values" and "key guidelines" exist, "essential principles" uniquely underscores the non-negotiable aspect of these concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental tenets

Replaces "principles" with "tenets", emphasizing a set of beliefs or doctrines.

core doctrines

Substitutes "essential principles" with "core doctrines", implying a set of fundamental teachings or beliefs.

key guidelines

Replaces "principles" with "guidelines", suggesting a set of recommendations or instructions.

basic concepts

Focuses on the foundational ideas or notions.

underlying fundamentals

Highlights the basic rules or laws on which something is based.

foundational rules

Emphasizes the rules that form the basis of something.

cornerstone ideas

Presents the ideas that are essential and indispensable.

indispensable elements

Stresses that certain aspects are absolutely necessary or essential.

central precepts

Uses "precepts" instead of "principles", implying a rule or guideline.

critical factors

Focuses on the most important influences or elements.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "essential principles" in a sentence?

Use "essential principles" to highlight the core, non-negotiable aspects of a concept, system, or belief. For instance, "Understanding these "fundamental tenets" is crucial for success".

What are some alternatives to "essential principles"?

You can use alternatives such as "core values", "key guidelines", or "fundamental concepts" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "essential principles" and "basic principles"?

While similar, "essential principles" emphasizes the indispensable nature of these rules or beliefs, while "basic principles" simply refers to foundational concepts. "Essential principles" suggests a higher degree of importance.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "essential principles"?

The phrase "essential principles" is suitable in academic, formal, and professional settings when discussing fundamental rules, theories, or guidelines that are critical to understanding or implementing a concept. However, it could be perceived as verbose in very informal contexts.