identify a link between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "identify a link between" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing relationships or connections between two or more subjects, ideas, or concepts. Example: "In this research paper, we aim to identify a link between climate change and biodiversity loss."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

In the summer of 2009, Charles Riely, an attorney at the S.E.C., and Neil Hendelman, an investigator, began combing through hundreds of phone records, trying to identify a link between an insider at one of the drug companies and S.A.C.

The New Yorker

By mining its patient data, Kaiser, for example, was first to identify a link between the pain-relief drug Vioxx and a higher risk of heart failure, well before Merck pulled the drug off the market in 2004.

The New York Times

Future work to identify a link between global methylation and AAA, and differentially methylated regions may reveal valuable insight.

Atherosclerosis

This does not allow to identify a link between PSE level and variability of farm income because it is not possible to highlight a positive or negative correlation among these two parameters.

Agricultural and Food Economics

Importantly, the discovery of these microRNAs allowed us to use microarrays to compare their expression in mature erythrocytes from normal (HbAA) and homozygous sickle cell (HbSS) individuals and to identify a link between the dysregulation of microRNA and the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD).

Plosone

In this study, we identify a link between RP deficiency, nucleotide metabolism and p53 activation.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The athletes denied taking the substance and pointed to studies identifying a link between the consumption of food supplements used by athletes and the natural production of steroids.

The New York Times - Sports

In 2007, John Cacioppo, a professor of psychology and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, and Steve Cole, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, among others, identified a link between loneliness and how genes express themselves.

The New Yorker

The authorities had identified a link between two recent E. coli outbreaks in Northern Germany and Bordeaux and the imported Egyptian seeds.

The New York Times

Dr. Lawrence also identified a link between the way cells respond immunologically to microbes like the bacterium that causes tuberculosis and the type of immune responses involved in the rejection of transplanted organs, said Dr. Fred T. Valentine, an immunologist who worked with Dr. Lawrence at N.Y.U. Henry Sherwood Lawrence was born in Astoria, Queens.

The New York Times

James Gauderman, professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and his team, who have run the Children's Health Study for two decades and who first identified a link between air pollution and impaired children's lung function, report that as a result of the clean-up, today's children can breathe more easily.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "identify a link between", ensure that you provide specific details about the nature of the link and the evidence supporting its existence. This strengthens the credibility of your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "identify a link between" without providing sufficient supporting evidence or detailed explanation. A vague assertion weakens your argument and lacks persuasive power.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "identify a link between" functions as a verbal phrase used to express the action of discovering or establishing a relationship or connection between two or more entities. As noted by Ludwig, it implies a process of investigation and finding a connection.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "identify a link between" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of finding or establishing a connection between two or more entities. It is frequently used in scientific and journalistic contexts. As shown by Ludwig, its usage is considered correct, and it's advisable to provide supporting details to strengthen any claim made using this phrase. Alternatives include "establish a connection between" or "find an association between", but the choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey. Remember that using this phrase without evidence can weaken your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establish a correlation between

Replaces "identify" with "establish" and "link" with "correlation", focusing on statistical relationships.

determine a connection between

Uses "determine" instead of "identify" and "connection" in place of "link", emphasizing the act of finding a relationship.

find an association between

Substitutes "identify" with "find" and "link" with "association", suggesting a less formal discovery of a relationship.

recognize a relationship between

Emphasizes the acknowledgement of a pre-existing relationship rather than its initial discovery.

uncover a relationship between

Implies revealing a relationship that was previously hidden or unknown.

detect a pattern between

Focuses on finding a recurring or predictable sequence connecting two elements.

demonstrate a tie between

Highlights the act of proving or showing the existence of a connection.

ascertain an interrelation between

Replaces "link" with "interrelation", suggesting a mutual or reciprocal relationship, and uses "ascertain" instead of "identify".

discover a bond between

Uses "discover" to suggest finding something previously unknown and "bond" to imply a strong connection.

pinpoint an interdependence between

Focuses on identifying a mutual reliance or dependence between two elements.

FAQs

How can I use "identify a link between" in a sentence?

Use "identify a link between" when you want to express the act of finding or establishing a connection between two or more things. For example: "Researchers are trying to "identify a link between" diet and heart disease".

What are some alternatives to "identify a link between"?

You can use alternatives such as "establish a connection between", "determine a relationship between", or "find an association between", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "identify a link between" or "establish a link between"?

Both phrases are correct, but "establish a link between" often implies a stronger, more definitive connection than ""identify a link between"", which suggests an initial finding.

What is the difference between "correlation" and "link" when discussing relationships?

"Correlation" implies a statistical relationship between two variables, while "link" is a more general term for any kind of connection. You might use "identify a correlation between" in a statistical context, whereas ""identify a link between"" can apply to broader relationships.