formative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formative" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is related to the development or shaping of something, often in an educational or developmental context. Example: "The formative years of a child's life are crucial for their overall development and future success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His formative experiences in coding were courtesy of the DEC PDP-10 owned by British Petroleum's petrochemical works in Brough, East Yorkshire, near his home town of Hornsea.

The Guardian - Tech

He has been dividing his time of late between his home in New York and a base in Madrid (where he has been working on a theatre project with the cultish performance artist Marina Abramovic), but southern England, where he lived until the age of 10, remains a formative grid reference.

The Guardian - Music

Written by Frank Deasy, the BBC's four-part series is set in 1982 and traces the formative years of the Edinburgh's heroin explosion.

The Guardian - Film

For many, the strike was formative in their political education.

The Guardian - Opinion

A companion piece of sorts comes in the form of the Kickstarter-funded Salad Days (dir Scott Crawford), a documentary about Cobain's beloved DC hardcore punk scene (fellow Nirvana man Dave Grohl's formative band, Scream, are included), the ethos of which the distressed Cobain believed he had betrayed.

The Guardian - Film

He stressed again how nationally formative was the experience of men from the recently disparate colonies fighting together for the first time.

The Guardian

He's in Atlanta, the birthplace of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, in the 50's and 60's – Martin Luther King was preaching at Atlanta's Ebenzer Baptist Church on Sundays until 1968 – formative years for the civil rights movement and anyone born in 1945!

The Guardian - Opinion

When I interviewed Peter Doig last year he recalled his formative years in London's now dramatically gentrified King's Cross.

The Guardian

Both were near the playwright's lodgings during his formative, largely undocumented years in east London.

The Guardian

Here are six things life has taught her: I grew up during the Cultural Revolution, so I lived through that chaotic period during my formative years.

The Guardian

This historic conflict was yet another landmark of gloom in my formative years: a grim and anxious time of air-raid siren tests for nuclear attacks, IRA bombings, and then of course Aids.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a period or experience, pair "formative" with specific nouns like "years", "experiences", or "influences" to clearly convey the period of development being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "formative" to describe something already completed. "Formative" implies a period or process of development, not a finished state. Instead of saying "The clay is formative", say "The clay is being formed" or "The formative stage of the clay sculpture".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "formative" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that has a significant influence on the development of something else. Ludwig AI shows that it is generally used to describe periods of time, experiences, or influences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "formative" functions as an adjective used to describe elements that significantly influence development, as indicated by Ludwig AI. It's most commonly used to describe "formative years", "formative experiences", or "formative periods". Its register is generally neutral to formal, appearing frequently in news, business, and academic contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and highly usable, emphasizing its importance in discussing growth and development. While alternatives like "developmental" and "shaping" exist, "formative" specifically highlights the influential nature of the period or experience in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

developmental

Focuses specifically on the process of development, often in a biological or psychological context.

shaping

Highlights the act of giving something a particular form or character.

influential

Emphasizes the power to have an effect on someone or something.

foundational

Indicates that something forms a necessary base or core.

crucial in development

Highlights the importance of a particular stage or event for overall growth.

contributing to growth

Focuses on the act of adding to or promoting expansion.

instrumental in forming

Emphasizes the role of something as a key factor in creation or establishment.

significant in the evolution

Refers to something important in a gradual process of change and development.

playing a key role in shaping

Highlights the importance of something or someone in influencing the development of something else.

having a lasting impact on

Emphasizes the enduring effect of something on subsequent development.

FAQs

How can I use "formative" in a sentence?

Use "formative" to describe periods, experiences, or influences that significantly shape development, as in "My "formative years" were spent traveling" or "That experience was formative in shaping my career path."

What is a good synonym for "formative"?

Depending on the context, good synonyms for "formative" include "developmental", "shaping", or "influential". Each of these words emphasizes a different aspect of the development process.

What are some common collocations with "formative"?

Common collocations with "formative" include "formative years", "formative experiences", "formative period", and "formative influences". These phrases are frequently used to describe key aspects of personal or professional development.

Is it correct to say "formative stage" or should I use another term?

"Formative stage" is perfectly acceptable and commonly used to refer to a period when something is being developed or shaped. It is a valid phrase to describe a key time of growth or development.