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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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is keys

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is keys" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to indicate possession or existence, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "The keys are on the table."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Our normal tracker works where the item tracking is keys, backpacks.

That is, keys are delivered securely without leaking them to the cloud service providers or malicious users.

Another new piece of analytics is Keys to the Match, which identifies three actions players can take to increase their chances of winning.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Bread is key.

News & Media

The New York Times

Freshness is key.

Comfort is key throughout.

News & Media

Independent

Financial stability is key.

News & Media

The Economist

Dosage is key.

News & Media

The New Yorker

That resistance is key.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Durability is key.

News & Media

The New York Times

The timing is key.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to use a plural noun like "keys", ensure the verb agrees in number. Use "are" instead of "is" for grammatically correct sentences.

Common error

Avoid using "is" with plural subjects such as "keys". Remember that plural subjects require plural verbs like "are" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is keys" attempts to express a state of being related to multiple "keys". However, it functions incorrectly due to a subject-verb disagreement. Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is keys" is grammatically incorrect. While it appears in a few online sources, including news and scientific contexts, it suffers from a subject-verb disagreement. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form should be "are keys" when referring to multiple keys. Alternatives like "it is key" can also be used to express that something is important or essential. Therefore, always ensure proper subject-verb agreement for clear and effective communication.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "keys" in a sentence?

The word "keys" is a plural noun, so it requires a plural verb. The correct phrasing would be "keys are" instead of "is keys".

How can I correct the phrase "is keys"?

The easiest way to correct "is keys" is to change "is" to "are", resulting in "are keys". You could also rephrase the sentence entirely.

What does it mean when someone says "is keys"?

While grammatically incorrect, "is keys" is likely meant to convey that certain keys are important or essential. However, it should be corrected to "are keys" to be grammatically correct.

What are some alternatives to saying something "is keys"?

Instead of saying something "is keys", you could say "it is key", "this is essential", or "are keys" depending on the intended meaning and context.

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Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: