establish a connection between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "establish a connection between" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that two or more objects or concepts are related in some way. For example: Scientists are working to establish a connection between genetics and cancer.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In their paper, the researchers establish a connection between perceived safety and homicides.

The Economist

And the requirement to establish a connection between the target of surveillance and a foreign power has been eliminated, which makes spying on "lone wolf" suspects possible.

The New York Times

The objective this season is survival and he would love to entertain the Watford fans while doing so and establish a connection between the pitch and the stands.

The Guardian - Sport

Apart from the appeal to Simón Bolívar's reputation as a liberator, however, Chávez did not establish a connection between socialism and Bolívar's thoughts and deeds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After reviewing additional data, including a corrected Australian study, the Institute of Medicine concluded that there was not enough evidence to establish a connection between exposure and development of acute myelogenous leukemia.

The New York Times

Massimiliano Tonelli, editor of Italian arts magazine Artribune, said Milan had failed to establish a connection between contemporary art and the other cultural fields of design and fashion that had put the city on the map internationally.

The Guardian - Arts

If they can prove their hypothesis, Langmuir told me, it will establish a connection "between big changes in climate at Earth's surface, ridge volcanism, the carbon cycle, and the entire topographic fabric of the sea floor".

The New Yorker

Neither the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that might have posed an imminent threat to America, nor the failure to establish a connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 seems to have given the authors pause.

The New York Times - Books

But because measuring sodium in humans is difficult, requiring constant urine collection over days, it is nearly impossible to stage large-scale studies that might establish a connection between high sodium and lethal events.

The New York Times - Science

Throughout his career, Mr. Ito said, he has tried to establish a connection between inside and the outside conditions, an effort evident in his lightweight structures that use materials like mesh, perforated aluminum and permeable fabrics.

The New York Times - Arts

The latter axioms establish a connection between the theoretical and the observational terms.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "establish a connection between", ensure that the nature of the connection is clear and relevant to your argument or explanation. Specify the mechanism or reason for the relationship, if possible.

Common error

Avoid using "establish a connection between" without specifying the nature of the connection. A general statement lacks impact. Instead, clearly define the link: "establish a causal connection between diet and health."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish a connection between" functions as a verb phrase that introduces the idea of creating or demonstrating a relationship or link between two or more elements. As supported by Ludwig, this is generally considered a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "establish a connection between" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate the creation, discovery, or demonstration of a relationship between two or more elements. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its presence in diverse contexts such as science, news, and encyclopedias reflects its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the nature of the connection. Alternatives include "create a link between" or "draw a parallel between", each offering subtle differences in meaning. Remember to avoid vagueness, specifying the connection's mechanism or reason for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create a link between

Replaces "establish" with "create", implying a more active construction of the connection.

forge a link between

Implies a stronger, more durable connection than simply establishing one.

build a bridge between

Suggests overcoming a divide or gap between the connected elements.

draw a parallel between

Suggests highlighting similarities rather than just any kind of relationship.

show a relationship between

Focuses on demonstrating an existing relationship rather than creating one.

demonstrate an association between

More formal and scientific, highlighting a correlation or statistical link.

uncover a correlation between

Emphasizes the discovery of a pre-existing but previously unknown link.

identify a pattern between

Focuses on finding a recurring relationship or connection.

correlate X with Y

A more concise and direct way to express a statistical relationship.

associate X and Y

Simple and direct, implying a general connection without specifying the nature of the link.

FAQs

How can I use "establish a connection between" in a sentence?

Use "establish a connection between" to indicate that you are creating, proving, or highlighting a relationship between two or more things. For instance, "Scientists are trying to "establish a connection between" certain genes and the likelihood of developing specific diseases".

What are some alternatives to "establish a connection between"?

You can use phrases like "create a link between", "draw a parallel between", or "forge a link between" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "establish a connection between" or "show a relationship between"?

The choice depends on the context. "Establish a connection between" implies creating or demonstrating a new link. "Show a relationship between" is more appropriate when you are revealing an existing, but perhaps previously unknown, relationship.

What's the difference between "establish a connection between" and "establish a correlation between"?

"Establish a connection between" is a broader term that suggests any kind of link, while "establish a correlation between" specifically indicates a statistical relationship where changes in one variable are associated with changes in another.