formative text

USAGE SUMMARY

"formative text" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a body of writing that serves to shape or inform an idea or concept. For example, "This novel is full of formative text that helped me to better understand the author's point of view."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Dickens's subtitle tells us that his book is "A Ghost Story of Christmas", and it was a formative text in the establishment of Christmas as the most fitting time for a spooky tale.

The Guardian - Film

Others are a close study of a single formative text.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This description aims to highlight the singularity of each of Derrida's investigations of formative texts in the history of philosophy.

SEP

Is it too much to hope that a less mean book might become the formative meta-text for the next generation's ideology?

Huffington Post

Formative (form).

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

We chose our method because written narrative texts are one of the positive qualities of these formative assessment forms.

BMC Medical Education

Mr. Lazio was also asked what he'd been doing to keep his constituents from spending their formative years reading science texts written before the dawn of the computer age.

The New York Times

Three treatment groups were employed with varying feedback content: Treatment 1 (T1) was an elaborated instruction-based feedback, T2 was a dichotomous verification feedback, and T3 (control) consisted of reading appropriate texts (no formative assessment and no feedback).

Computers & Education

By digitizing a cohesive set of classic architecture and urban studies texts from formative and influential moments in these fields, the MIT Press will be surfacing a significant set of works for discovery and research by the scholarly community.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He had been adjacent or pivotal to so many extraordinary moments, and "Death of a Salesman" is as formative and essential an American text as I can think of.

The New Yorker

It was a strangely formative moment: a realisation that texts are many-pathed and that there is no "right" route through them, especially one so labyrinthine as the Aeneid with its shadowed coves, dark woods and starless nights; with its deceptions, tricks and hostile gods.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formative text" to specifically highlight a piece of writing that has significantly influenced the development of an idea, concept, or individual.

Common error

Avoid using "formative text" when you mean a text is simply informative. "Formative text" implies a deeper, more influential role in shaping understanding or development, not just providing information. For example, instead of "This article was formative text for my research", consider "This article was informative for my research" if it only provided helpful details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formative text" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "formative" modifies the noun "text". It signifies a specific type of text that shapes or influences one's understanding or development. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "formative text" describes a written work that significantly influences understanding or development. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, although it's relatively rare. It often appears in academic, journalistic, and literary contexts, emphasizing a text's pivotal role in shaping perspectives. While alternatives like "influential writing" and "foundational text" exist, "formative text" specifically highlights the shaping power of a text. Keep in mind it is not merely informative; it’s transformative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Foundational text

Emphasizes the role of the text as a base or starting point.

Seminal writing

Emphasizes groundbreaking and highly influential nature of the text.

Influential writing

Focuses on the impact a text has.

Influential literary piece

Highlights the literary character and its power.

Key literary work

Highlights importance within a specific literary context.

Impacting writing

Focuses on text impacting another work.

Shaping narrative

Highlights the text's ability to shape a broader story or understanding.

Critical source material

Focuses on importance of information and research value.

Pivotal textual reference

Emphasizes text's critical role as a reference point.

Developmental reading

Suggests a text that aids in personal or intellectual growth.

FAQs

How can "formative text" be used in a sentence?

You can use "formative text" to describe a piece of writing that significantly influences someone's understanding or development, such as, "Dickens's A Christmas Carol was a "formative text" in establishing Christmas as a time for spooky tales."

What is a good alternative to "formative text"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "formative text" include "influential writing", "foundational text", or "seminal writing".

What makes a text "formative"?

A "formative text" is one that plays a crucial role in shaping one's understanding, ideas, or development. It's more than just informative; it's transformative.

Is "formative text" the same as "required reading"?

Not necessarily. "Required reading" simply means assigned material, while a "formative text" has a lasting impact on shaping one's perspectives or knowledge, irrespective of whether it was assigned or not.