key among

USAGE SUMMARY

"key among" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe something that is important or essential in a particular situation or group. Example: Key among the many challenges facing our company is improving employee morale.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Key among these is blood transfusion.

The Economist

Key among these is volunteers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Key among them is leptin, an essential player in reproduction.

The New York Times - Science

Key among these is the Customs and Excise people, who are looking for the payment of a VAT bill".

The Guardian - Sport

Key among them is the decision to add an international element to the game's in-depth Career mode.

The Guardian - Tech

Key among these was Ms Harman's plan to extend flexible working to 4.5 million parents with children under 16.

Independent

Key among the new plans was the need to deploy armed police officers, faster and in greater numbers than before, in the event of an attack.

The Guardian

Lines of dialogue are spliced directly – and sympathetically – from their testimonials, key among them the idea that an A-list lifestyle is something "everyone kind of wants".

The Guardian - Film

The intelligence and resilience of the three boys quickly comes to the fore as they find a key among the rubbish.

The Guardian - Books

Key among them is the huge backlog of cases, in part because many governments in Europe persistently refuse to implement its judgments.

The Guardian - Opinion

Key among the series of accidents that has seen Hyperdub championed from the NME to the New Yorker, presumably, was releasing Burial's music, and it becoming unexpectedly popular.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "key among", ensure that the context clearly establishes a group or set of items from which the key element is being highlighted.

Common error

Avoid using "key among" in contexts where it's not immediately clear what the highlighted element is most important in relation to. Make sure to establish the larger context first.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key among" functions as an introductory phrase, highlighting the most significant element within a group or list. It is used to emphasize the importance of a particular item, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "key among" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to highlight the most important element within a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used and understood. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, this phrase effectively signals priority and importance. When using "key among", ensure that the context makes clear the group to which the key element belongs to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary among

Focuses more directly on the order of importance, suggesting something is first or foremost.

chief among

Emphasizes the hierarchical aspect, implying a leadership or dominant role.

foremost among

Highlights the prominence and leading position within a set of items.

principal among

Stresses the significance and foundational nature of the item being described.

most important of

A more direct and explicit way of stating importance.

significant among

Highlights the notability and consequence of the item.

notable among

Emphasizes the distinctiveness and worthiness of attention of the item.

essential among

Underlines the necessity and indispensability of the item.

central among

Suggests that the item is pivotal and fundamental to a larger context.

leading among

Implies a position of influence or direction within a group.

FAQs

How can I use "key among" in a sentence?

Use "key among" to introduce the most significant item within a group of related items. For example, "Key among the challenges is funding".

What are some alternatives to "key among"?

You can use alternatives like "primary among", "chief among", or "most important of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "key among them is" or "key among them are"?

The correct form depends on whether the item following "is" or "are" is singular or plural. For example, "Key among them is funding" (singular) versus "Key among them are resources and funding" (plural).

What's the difference between "key among" and "important among"?

"Key among" typically highlights the most essential or crucial element, while "important among" simply indicates something of significant value. "Key among" carries a stronger sense of prioritization.