instrumental with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instrumental with" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct in standard usage.
It can be used when describing someone or something that plays a significant role in achieving a particular outcome, but it is more typical to use "instrumental in" instead. Example: "She was instrumental in the success of the project, providing valuable insights and support."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

L.T.C.N.P.H.B.A.T.B.B.N.S.D.P.: It's an instrumental, with Stipe providing wordless la-la's.

The New Yorker

John says that Corey was "very instrumental" with Daleesha.

The New Yorker

"Komansky was definitely instrumental," with Mr. Spitzer, said Henry McVey, an analyst at Morgan Stanley.

The New York Times

He broke into a verbal instrumental with percussive kisses, then cut it off as if he had been unplugged.

The New York Times

The album is heavily instrumental, with as many textures and tangents as a late Picasso, or his beloved Juan Miro.

The Guardian - Music

It's a dark instrumental with subtle shuddering dubstep bass inflections mixing with some high synth lines and murky atmospherics.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

The Rachel's play richly introverted chamber-rock, using mostly acoustic instruments to create moody, slow-building instrumentals with touches of Philip Glass and Chopin.

The New York Times

He has incorporated rock instrumentation into traditional scores and mixed digital electronics with traditional instrumental ensembles with intriguing results.

The New York Times

"What It Feels Like for a Girl," Madonna's quasi-feminist statement, turned up twice: first as a near-instrumental with Japanese anime cartoons showing a girl pursued, trapped and sexually abused, and later sung in Spanish with a pumping electronic beat.

The New York Times

Madonna's quasi-feminist statement, "What It Feels Like for a Girl," turned up twice: first as a near-instrumental with Japanese anime cartoons showing a girl pursued, trapped and sexually abused, and later sung in Spanish with a pumping electronic beat.

The New York Times

The Apollo's Fire disc mixes Appalachian songs and instrumentals with Southern hymns.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instrumental" consider restructuring the sentence to use stronger verbs like "facilitated", "enabled", or "catalyzed" to emphasize agency and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "instrumental with". The correct preposition to follow "instrumental" when describing a role or contribution is "in". Using "with" can make your writing sound awkward and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instrumental with" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something or someone is a key factor. However, its grammatical correctness is questionable. Ludwig indicates a preference for the phrase to be reworded. As evidenced by the examples given, this expression is not as common as its alternative.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "instrumental with" is used to describe something or someone that plays a key role. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect and less common compared to "instrumental in". Ludwig AI indicates the phrase should be reworded for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. When writing, it is best to use "instrumental in" or consider alternative phrases such as "played a key role in", "was pivotal in", or "was crucial to" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instrumental in

Uses the standard and grammatically correct preposition "in" instead of "with".

played a key role in

Replaces "instrumental" with a more common phrase indicating importance and influence.

was crucial for

Emphasizes the critical importance using "crucial" instead of "instrumental".

was essential to

Highlights the necessity of something using "essential" as a substitute.

significantly contributed to

Focuses on the act of contributing and its impact.

was vital for

Replaces "instrumental" with "vital", indicating something indispensable.

was pivotal in

Uses "pivotal" to underscore the turning-point nature of the contribution.

greatly assisted with

Shifts the focus to assistance provided, using a more direct verb.

was influential in

Highlights the degree of impact something had, making it influential.

was fundamental to

Emphasizes the basic or foundational role of something.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "instrumental with"?

While some instances of "instrumental with" exist, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The standard and preferred phrasing is "instrumental in".

What does it mean when someone is described as "instrumental in" a project?

It means that the person played a crucial or significant role in the project's success. Alternative ways to express this include saying they were "key to" or "essential to" the project.

What prepositions can be used with "instrumental"?

The most common and grammatically correct preposition to use with "instrumental" is "in". Other prepositions are not typically used in standard English.

What are some alternatives to "instrumental in"?

You can use phrases like "played a key role in", "was pivotal in", or "was crucial to" to convey a similar meaning.