has been key

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been key" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a thing or person that has been particularly important in a particular situation. For example, "Her attention to detail has been key to the success of this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human Resources for Health

Huffington Post

The Guardian

BBC

Pharmacology & Therapeutics

BMC Genomics

PLOSONE

SERIEs

BMC Medical Genomics

BMC Health Services Research

BioMed Research International

Forbes

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Earth, Planets and Space

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Current Biology

FEBS Letters

BMC Nursing

Cell and Bioscience

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Within all of this discussion, the role of supervision has been key [ 6].

Human Resources for Health

That is what has been key to make Bioworks1 happen and to making Bioworks2 a reality in the future.

Huffington Post

But the advertiser - and advertising - has been key to Channel 4's success and, let's not forget, vice versa.

The Guardian

Bamford, 21, has been key to Karanka's forward line, scoring five goals in 13 games including Saturday's equaliser in the 1-1 drat at Wigan Athletic.

BBC

Shelvey, 22, has been key to the Swans' impressive start to the season, winning their first three Premier League matches.

BBC

Knowledge of the structure of CDK2 has been key in driving the design and development of a large number of ATP competitive inhibitors.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Within the natural world, phenotypic plasticity is widespread and has been key to speciation and evolution [ 1- 3].

BMC Genomics

Ibrahimovic, 31, leads the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 27 goals while defender Silva, 28, and defensive midfielder Matuidi, 26, have been key to the team conceding just 21 times in 35 league matches.

BBC

While loss-of-function alleles of Chk1 have been key to defining the role of Chk1 in the cellular response to DNA damage, it is clear that our understanding of the checkpoint response is far from complete.

Plosone

Pavlakis is said to have been key to BIHL releasing £3m over the summer to tide over the players and giving Clark some money to juggle with in the transfer market.

The Guardian - Sport

The works of Smola and Bartlett (2001), MacKay (2003), and Williams and Rasmussen (2006) have been key in the development of GPR models.

SERIEs

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been key" to highlight the singular most important factor or element contributing to a specific outcome. Ensure the context clearly establishes the relationship between the key element and the result.

Common error

Avoid overusing the phrase "has been key" in the same text. Vary your language by using synonyms like "has been crucial", "has been essential", or "has been vital" to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been key" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, emphasizing the significant role or crucial nature of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms it's correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been key" effectively highlights the pivotal role something plays in achieving a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression in formal and informal writing. While highly versatile, it is crucial to vary language by using alternatives like "has been crucial" or "has been essential" when crafting comprehensive text to prevent redundancy. This analysis confirms its correctness, common usage across diverse sources, and provides guidance for optimal integration in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been crucial

Emphasizes the critical and decisive nature of something.

has been essential

Highlights the necessary and indispensable quality of something.

has been vital

Stresses the importance for the survival or success of something.

has been paramount

Indicates the supreme or dominant importance of something.

has been instrumental

Suggests that something was a critical instrument or agent in achieving a result.

has played a significant role

Indicates an important but perhaps not absolutely critical contribution.

has been central

Highlights that something is at the core or center of a process or situation.

has been fundamental

Emphasizes the foundational and basic importance of something.

has been pivotal

Indicates a turning point or critical moment influenced by something.

has been critical to success

Specifically links the importance to achieving a successful outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "has been key" to emphasize the importance of a specific factor in achieving a particular result. For example, "Her dedication has been key to the project's success."

What are some alternatives to "has been key"?

You can use alternatives such as "has been crucial", "has been essential", or "has been instrumental" to express a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "has been key" in formal writing?

Yes, "has been key" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when highlighting a critical factor or element. However, consider the specific context and audience to ensure it aligns with the overall tone and style.

What's the difference between "has been key" and "has been important"?

"Has been key" suggests that something is fundamentally essential and crucial, while "has been important" indicates something significant but possibly not indispensable. "Has been key" carries a stronger emphasis on the critical nature of the factor.