has been critical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been critical" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that was essential to a certain outcome. For example, "The support of her friends has been critical in helping her get through this difficult period."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That has been critical.

The New York Times - Magazine

Good timing, she said, has been critical.

The New York Times - Tech

Greer has been critical of the portrait.

The Guardian - Arts

Business has been critical of the reduction.

The Guardian

American support has been critical to the company's turnaround.

The New York Times

Judge Lamberth has been critical of the Clinton administration.

The New York Times

The Australia Council has been critical to that.

The Guardian

He has been critical of the behaviour of banks.

The Guardian - Business

He has been critical of Gamergate, but understands its impetus.

The Guardian - Tech

Even Mr. Abbas's own government has been critical.

The New York Times

Prince has been critical of music relationship with the internet.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been critical" to emphasize the indispensable role of something in achieving a specific outcome. For example, "Consistent effort has been critical to her success."

Common error

While appropriate for formal writing, overusing "has been critical" in casual conversations can sound stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "was important" or "really helped" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been critical" functions as a descriptive expression, typically used to emphasize the importance or necessity of something in achieving a specific outcome. This is supported by Ludwig's AI grammatical correctness assessment and numerous examples showing its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been critical" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to emphasize the essential nature of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news, academic, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for situations where you want to highlight the indispensable role of a particular element, keeping in mind that simpler alternatives might be preferred in informal settings. Authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, underscoring its reliability in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has proven essential

Replaces "critical" with "essential", emphasizing the indispensable nature of something.

has been indispensable

Substitutes "critical" with "indispensable", highlighting that something is absolutely necessary.

has been paramount

Replaces "critical" with "paramount", indicating supreme importance.

has played a vital role

Uses a more descriptive phrase to emphasize the significant part something has had.

has been key

A simpler alternative, indicating fundamental importance.

has been crucial

Synonymously replaces "critical" with "crucial", stressing decisiveness.

has been significant

Indicates notable importance but may be less forceful than "critical".

has greatly contributed

Focuses on the contribution made, implying importance through impact.

has been instrumental

Highlights the role of something as a key instrument or means to an end.

has been fundamental

Indicates that something is a basic and essential part of a foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "has been critical" in a sentence?

Use "has been critical" to emphasize that something was essential for a particular outcome. For instance, "Her dedication "has been critical" to the project's success".

What are some alternatives to saying "has been critical"?

You can use phrases like "has proven essential", "has been indispensable", or "has been crucial" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "has been critical" and "was important"?

"Has been critical" implies that something was absolutely necessary, whereas "was important" suggests something played a significant but perhaps not indispensable role. The choice depends on the degree of necessity you want to convey.

Can "has been critical" be used in both formal and informal writing?

While grammatically correct in both contexts, "has been critical" is generally more suited for formal or professional settings. Simpler phrases might be more appropriate for informal communication to avoid sounding overly formal.