key individual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "key individual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person who plays a crucial role in a particular context, such as a project, organization, or event. Example: "In our project, Sarah is the key individual responsible for coordinating the team's efforts and ensuring deadlines are met."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

His tussle with Rahman may prove the key individual battle of the night.

The Guardian - Sport

On many key individual issues, including the environment, polls repeatedly show that the public doesn't support his policies.

The New York Times

Mr. Christian places empty chairs around the spot where the selected patient is seated, each chair representing a key individual from that person's life.

The New York Times

One key individual, when told that many G-20 countries agreed with the criticism, said that that was because Anglo-Saxons dominated the global media.

The New York Times

In a 1989 report, A Guide for Dealing with Anti-tobacco Pressure Groups, I was labelled "A key individual [whose] presence is a danger signal".

Independent

In the short-term, Giggs is viewed as a key individual in United's battle to get Rooney's career at the club back on track.

Independent

The police chief added that Choudary was a "key individual in the UK", enticing people to join Isis in Syria by posting vast amounts of material online that radicalised them.

The Guardian

He has challenged the hegemony of Saakashvili's rule directly, appealing to key players in his administration (most importantly, the Interior Minister, Vano Merabishvili), and denounced what he considers the pseudo-opposition, while calling on key individual opposition figures to join him.

The New Yorker

Of course, in the era of amateurism key individual athletes who were deemed to be professionals – usually the most visible, successful and critical of the status quo – were summarily excluded from the Games: such as the Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi in 1932 and the Austrian skier Karl Schranz in 1972.

The Guardian - Sport

According to Cameron At 10, by Sir Anthony Seldon, Mr Blair telephoned his successor's office to say that he had been contacted by "a key individual close to Gaddafi" and that the Libyan dictator wanted to "cut a deal" with Britain.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

We used responses from these items to construct our key individual-level independent variable— adolescent violence.

British Journal of Criminology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "key individual", ensure the context clearly establishes why the individual is considered key. Be specific about their role or contributions to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "key individual" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler terms like "important person" or "main person" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key individual" functions as a noun phrase, where "key" acts as an adjective modifying "individual". It describes a person who is critically important or essential in a particular context. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "key individual" is a frequently used phrase to denote a person of significant importance, especially within formal or professional contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase. Its use spans various domains, including science, news media, and business, signifying its broad applicability. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's crucial to consider the register and opt for simpler alternatives in informal settings. The abundance of examples available through Ludwig highlights its common usage and provides a solid foundation for understanding its appropriate application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pivotal figure

Replaces "key" with "pivotal", emphasizing the individual's critical importance and influence.

essential person

Substitutes "key" with "essential", highlighting the indispensable nature of the individual.

central figure

Highlights the individual's position as a focal point of attention or influence.

linchpin

An element that holds the system together; without which it cannot work.

cornerstone

Highlights the individual as the foundation, crucial to the operation of something.

crucial player

Emphasizes the individual's active role and importance in achieving a specific outcome.

leading light

Implies the individual provides guidance or inspiration to others.

principal actor

Emphasizes the individual's role in driving events or actions.

main person

A simpler alternative, focusing on the individual's primary role or responsibility.

important person

A more general term indicating the individual's significance.

FAQs

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

"Key individual" is used to describe someone essential in a particular context. For example, "The project's success depended on several "crucial players", with Sarah being the "central figure".".

What are some alternatives to saying "key individual"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "pivotal figure", "essential person", or "crucial player". Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the individual's importance.

Is "key individual" formal or informal?

"Key individual" tends to be more formal. In informal settings, consider using "important person" or "main person".

What makes someone a "key individual"?

A "key individual" is someone whose skills, contributions, or position are crucial to the success or functioning of a project, organization, or situation. Their absence would significantly impact outcomes.