it is in essence

USAGE SUMMARY

"it is in essence" is grammatically correct and is perfectly usable in written English.
You can use it to succinctly explain that something is a concise summary or representation of a larger concept or idea. For example: "The company's core values are hard work, commitment, and integrity—but, it is in essence a desire to serve its customers with excellence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

By choosing to develop its product on top of WebKit, it is, in essence, giving up.

TechCrunch

It is, in essence, in everything.

The Guardian - Arts

It is, in essence, a lifetime contract.

The New York Times - Sports

It is in essence, socially condoned violence.

The New York Times - Travel

It is, in essence, an operating room in a backpack.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is, in essence, an unconvincing love story.

The New York Times - Books

It is, in essence, a free city in Europe.

The Guardian

It is in essence Wal-Mart's chief image maker.

The New York Times

It is, in essence, an attribute of individual atomic nuclei.

Britannica

But it is, in essence, a mildly overwrought database.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is because our enemy is intangible: it is, in essence, the absence of critical moderation.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is in essence" to provide a concise explanation or summary of a more complex concept. This helps to clarify the core meaning for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "it is in essence" in sentences that are already simple and straightforward. The phrase is best suited for clarifying complex ideas, not for stating the obvious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is in essence" functions as a discourse marker or explanatory phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, showcasing its role in providing a concise summary or clarifying the core meaning of a concept within a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

19%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is in essence" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to provide a concise explanation or summary of a concept. As Ludwig highlights, it is versatile enough for use across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While the phrase is quite common, make sure you are not overusing it in contexts where it's redundant. Remember that a key to good writing is concision, as well as clarity. The phrase finds its place to offer simplicity by reducing the meaning down to the crucial parts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essentially it is

Inversion of the phrase structure, emphasizing the 'essentially' component. Slightly alters the flow of the sentence.

it's fundamentally

Replaces "in essence" with "fundamentally", highlighting the basic or core aspect.

at its core it is

Uses "at its core" to emphasize the central or most important aspect.

it boils down to

Indicates a simplification or reduction to the most essential elements.

it amounts to

Suggests that the final result or consequence is a particular thing.

in reality it is

Emphasizes the actual or true nature of something, often contrasting with appearances.

it's basically

A more informal way of saying "in essence", suitable for casual contexts.

to put it simply, it is

Introduces a simplified explanation or summary.

in simpler terms, it is

Similar to 'to put it simply', it offers a more accessible explanation.

it can be described as

Offers an alternative description or categorization of the subject.

FAQs

How can I use "it is in essence" in a sentence?

Use "it is in essence" to offer a concise summary or key understanding of a topic. For example, "The new policy, "it is in essence", a way to streamline operations".

What phrases can I use instead of "it is in essence"?

Alternatives include "essentially it is", "fundamentally it is", or "at its core it is". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in essence it is" instead of "it is in essence"?

While grammatically understandable, "it is in essence" is the more standard and fluent phrasing. Reversing the order can sound awkward in most contexts but, depending on the intention may also be correct. It depends on which element you want to emphasize.

What's the difference between "it is in essence" and "it is essentially"?

"It is in essence" highlights the fundamental nature or core meaning, whereas "it is essentially" suggests a practical equivalence or simplification. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing the core nature or a practical simplification.