incidental to this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incidental to this" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is secondary or not the main focus in relation to a primary subject or issue. Example: "The costs associated with the project are incidental to this discussion about its overall feasibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

That it is also a cartoon is not incidental to this achievement.

The New York Times

The author and his book were incidental to this mobilisation, which is why so few of its Muslim critics had read the novel.

The Guardian - Books

Notionally, this episode dealt with the struggle of animals to establish homes – but there was a lot of footage (wildebeest takedowns, mountain goats leaping) incidental to this theme.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Incidental to this work, Brown and B.C. Subba Rao studied the reduction of ethyl oleate by sodium borohydride in the presence of aluminum chloride.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even if conservatives can make a substantive case that Ryan's health-care bill is "Obamacare lite" and criticize it for not being cruel enough to the poor, ideology is really incidental to this conflict.

The Washington Post

Bill Hare, chief executive of Climate Analytics, said Australia's promise to ratify Kyoto 2 was "largely incidental to this meeting, which is all about the next step after 2020".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But these quibbles may be incidental to the purpose of this book: authorship as therapy.

The New York Times - Books

"The fact that humans get it is really incidental to the spread of this disease," he added.

The New York Times - Health

Those views are typically treated as incidental to the research, but this has not yet been proven A study should be undertaken which varies venue backdrops and/or backdrops and foregrounds, but without varying the geometry of the setting.

City, Territory and Architecture

"They are in accordance with what is generally accepted as interrogation techniques, and if incidental to the due course of this investigation, we find things that need to be changed, we will certainly change them".

The New York Times

Victory or defeat by St Mirren will become incidental to the bigger picture of this campaign, but either will feel immediately significant, particularly a defeat.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incidental to this", ensure the primary subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. This helps readers understand what the incidental element is related to.

Common error

Avoid using "incidental to this" when the related element significantly impacts the main subject. "Related to this" or "relevant to this" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incidental to this" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or clause by indicating that something is of secondary importance or not essential in relation to the main subject. Ludwig examples showcase its correct use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

29%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incidental to this" is a prepositional phrase used to describe something as secondary or not essential in relation to a primary subject. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides various examples across news, science, and academic contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to ensure the level of importance is accurately represented to avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives like "secondary to this", "peripheral to this", and "tangential to this" can provide more nuanced ways to express the relationship between elements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondary to this

Indicates a lower level of importance compared to the primary subject.

peripheral to this

Suggests something is on the edge or outside the main focus.

tangential to this

Implies a slight connection or diversion from the main point.

subordinate to this

Indicates a lower rank or importance in a hierarchical structure.

unrelated to this

Highlights the lack of a direct or significant connection.

extraneous to this

Suggests that something is not essential and can be removed without affecting the main subject.

irrelevant to this

Points out the lack of relevance or importance.

beside the point

Indicates that something is not relevant to the current discussion or argument.

not central to this

Emphasizes that something is not a key aspect.

of minor importance to this

Stresses that something has little significance in relation to the main subject.

FAQs

How can I use "incidental to this" in a sentence?

Use "incidental to this" to describe something that is related but not essential to the main point. For example, "The cost is "secondary to this" discussion about overall value".

What's the difference between "incidental to this" and "related to this"?

"Incidental to this" implies a lesser degree of importance or direct relevance than "related to this". Use "incidental" when the connection is minor or secondary.

Is it correct to say "incidentally to this" instead of "incidental to this"?

While "incidentally" is an adverb and "incidental" is an adjective, "incidental to this" is the correct phrase when describing something as a secondary aspect. "Incidentally" would modify a verb, not a noun.

What are some alternatives to "incidental to this"?

Alternatives include "secondary to this", "peripheral to this", or "tangential to this", depending on the degree of connection you want to convey.