external idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "external idea" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a concept or thought that originates outside of a particular context or individual perspective. Example: "In our discussion, we should consider the external idea of collaboration as a means to enhance our project outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I want to interpret the piece the composer and librettist wrote, not impose some external idea.

The New York Times - Arts

Like, fuck every external idea of "having it all" unless you mean a full-time platonic lover, three part-time boyfriends, eternal summer and uncomplicated, enormous cash; fuck What Is A Joke. Fuck what you're "supposed to" anything.

Vice

It can be a process, and it's sort of a never-ending process, but I think any artist of any medium needs to express themselves and not some external idea.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And he's not driven by overarching external ideas about a play.

The New York Times

"I will have to live with external ideas and thoughts and accept them.

BBC

It is a paradigm that assumes that organizations can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas.

RAI Revista de Administração e Inovação

When the relationship between the artist and the audience loses its intermediaries then external ideas of integrity become irrelevant.

TechCrunch

It assumes that firms can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas, and internal and external paths to market, as they look to advance their technology (Chesbrough 2006).

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

"Open Innovation is a new paradigm that assumes that firms can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas and internal and external paths to market, as the firms look to advance their technology".

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Kim and Park (2010) found that, among Korean SMEs, external R&D has a positive and significant effect on innovation output, but external ideas have a negative effect and external knowledge has no impact.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Examples include the receptivity to external ideas and interventions (may be positive or negative, it is contextual), traditional institutions (for example, patriarchal and conservative), and the rise in modern institutions (for example, powerful community members reinforcing their positions), among others.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of "external ideas" on creative processes, specify the source or type of external influence to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "external idea" without specifying the domain or source of the idea. This can lead to ambiguity. Instead, provide concrete examples of the source or context of the external influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "external idea" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "external" modifies the noun "idea". It typically identifies a concept or notion that originates from outside a particular entity, system, or individual. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "external idea" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a concept originating from an outside source. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is employed across diverse fields such as news, science, and business, as Ludwig AI shows. When using this phrase, it is beneficial to provide context to specify the origin or type of external influence to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "outside perspective" or "foreign concept" can be considered depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outside perspective

Focuses on the viewpoint rather than the idea itself, suggesting a different angle of consideration.

external viewpoint

Similar to "outside perspective", but more explicit in denoting a point of view.

foreign concept

Emphasizes the unfamiliar or alien nature of the idea.

imported notion

Highlights the idea's origin from another source or system.

third-party suggestion

Indicates that the idea comes from an external entity.

external proposal

Replaces "idea" with a more formal term.

outside influence

Focuses on the effect the external source has on a concept.

external input

Highlights the contribution an external source makes.

borrowed idea

Highlights that the idea was inspired by an external source.

external opinion

Highlights that the idea is an opinion of an external entity.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "external idea" in a sentence?

You can use "external idea" to refer to a concept that originates from outside a particular system or individual's thinking. For example: "The project benefited from the introduction of an "external idea" that challenged conventional approaches."

What are some alternatives to using "external idea"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "outside perspective", "foreign concept", or "external viewpoint".

Is "external idea" formal or informal?

The phrase "external idea" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The degree of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the specific setting.

In what fields or areas of knowledge is the term "external idea" commonly used?

The phrase "external idea" can be used across various fields, including business, academia, and creative arts, whenever referring to ideas originating from outside a particular system or individual's thinking. It is a cross-discipline term.