is a primary driver of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is a primary driver of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the main factors or influences behind a particular outcome or phenomenon. For example: "Economic growth is a primary driver of job creation." Alternative expressions include "is a key factor in," "is a major contributor to," and "is a significant influence on."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

We recognize that the growing competitiveness of getting into top-tier institutions is a primary driver of student burnout, and for that reason it is even more important to convey this note to parents: Let your children enjoy their youth.

The New York Times

Agriculture is a primary driver of landscape change (Houghton 1994).

Ecological Processes

Remodeling epithelia is a primary driver of morphogenesis.

Developmental Cell

Cities have an unequal distribution of resources which is a primary driver of travel.

TechCrunch

First, the consumer culture of holiday gift-giving is a primary driver of retail shopping.

TechCrunch

The trucking industry is a primary driver of the U.S. economy.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

But this ignores the fact the government is the largest purchaser of health care and that Medicare policies are a primary driver of health care inflation.

The New York Times

The city has been particularly hard hit by the shrinking of the financial services industry, which, much like in Midtown Manhattan, had been a primary driver of growth.

The New York Times

The appetite in those markets for Japanese exports has been a primary driver of economic growth here over the last several quarters, but in the third quarter, imports exceeded exports, a rare occurrence in Japan.

The New York Times

Medical bills are a primary driver of bankruptcy for middle-class families; the law removes the lifetime benefit limit, ends denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions and contains other rules that might help reduce the number of bankruptcies.

The New York Times

Historically, our user growth has been a primary driver of growth in our revenue.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the noun following 'of' is a process, outcome or condition that can be logically 'driven' by an external factor.

Common error

Avoid using "is a primary driver of" if you have already listed several other factors as being equally important. The word 'primary' literally means 'of first importance' or 'principal'—using it for multiple conflicting factors weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is a primary driver of" functions as a complex verbal predicate that establishes a strong causal or correlative link between a subject and an outcome. According to Ludwig, it allows writers to foreground a specific variable as the principal agent of change within a sentence structure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "is a primary driver of" is a robust and grammatically sound phrase that excels in professional and academic settings. Data from Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently utilized in scientific literature and high-quality journalism to pinpoint the most influential factor in a sequence of events. While it is synonymous with phrases like "is a major contributor to", it carries a more decisive tone. Writers should use it when they want to emphasize that a specific factor is the principal reason for an outcome, ensuring they do not dilute its meaning by applying it to secondary or tertiary factors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is a major contributor to

Slightly less definitive than primary, suggesting one of several strong factors

is a key factor in

More general and less technical, suitable for various registers

plays a central role in

Emphasizes the function or agency of the subject rather than just causality

is a significant influence on

Softer tone, indicating impact without necessarily being the sole driver

stands as a leading cause of

Stronger focus on direct cause-and-effect relationships

acts as a fundamental catalyst for

Suggests the factor accelerates or initiates a change

represents a critical determinant of

Highly formal and academic, often used in statistical contexts

is a main source of

Focuses on the origin of a problem or phenomenon

functions as a vital element of

Highlights the structural necessity of the factor within a system

serves as a core engine for

Uses a mechanical metaphor to describe driving force

FAQs

How to use "is a primary driver of" in a sentence?

You can use it to link a cause to an effect, such as: "Rising global demand for energy "is a primary driver of" infrastructure investment."

What can I say instead of "is a primary driver of"?

Depending on your context, you can use alternatives like "is a major contributor to", "is a key factor in" or "represents a critical determinant of".

Is "is a primary driver of" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, it is highly appropriate. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is frequently used in scientific journals like PlosOne and the Journal of Hydrology to describe causal relationships.

What is the difference between "is a primary driver of" and "is a leading cause of"?

While similar, "is a leading cause of" is more common in medical or negative contexts, whereas "is a primary driver of" is often used in economic, environmental and technical contexts to describe forces behind growth or change.