key predictor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "key predictor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to identify a significant factor that forecasts or indicates a particular outcome or trend. Example: "In our study, we found that socioeconomic status is a key predictor of educational attainment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

D.C.'s average March temperature, a key predictor of bloom dates, has warmed by about 2.2 degrees in that span.

The Washington Post

Our training featured number line mapping, a key predictor of mathematical achievement17, which correlates with arithmetic processing even in adults18.

Nature

As expected, self-reported aggressiveness was a key predictor of ultimatum game rejections.

Hormones and Behavior

Leadership is a key predictor of employee, team, and organizational creativity and innovation.

The Leadership Quarterly

A key predictor variable for juvenile delinquency is the presence of delinquent peers.

Socio-Economic Planning Sciences

March temperatures are frequently a key predictor for cherry blossom bloom dates; the warmer March is, the earlier buds typically burst.

The Washington Post

For example, when ConAgra Foods analyzed its peer recognition it found that failure to recognize an employee's good performance was a key predictor of attrition.

Harvard Business Review

Thus, the increased expression of nuclear CHOP in CD8+ TILs is a key predictor of poor clinical responses in advanced ovarian cancer.

Nature

Perhaps even more important, however, is that the diversity of higher trophic-level organisms may serve as a key predictor of multifunctionality17 and therefore as a management target.

Nature

Our findings suggest that attention is a key predictor of retraction – retracted articles arise most frequently among highly-cited articles.

Research Policy

The researchers also evaluated specific components of the walking programs and found that having a step goal was a key predictor of increased physical activity.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "key predictor", ensure that the relationship between the predictor and the outcome is well-supported by evidence or data.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "key predictor" as a guaranteed indicator; acknowledge other influencing factors and potential exceptions. Predictive relationships are rarely absolute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key predictor" functions as a noun phrase identifying a significant factor that forecasts or indicates a particular outcome. This phrase is frequently used to highlight the importance of a specific variable in influencing a result, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

26%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "key predictor" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a significant factor that forecasts a specific outcome. Ludwig's analysis shows that it is widely used in scientific, academic, and news contexts. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the predictive relationship is well-supported and not overstated. Alternatives like "primary indicator" or "major determinant" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. According to Ludwig, this phrase effectively highlights the importance of a particular element in understanding or anticipating results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary indicator

Focuses on the indication aspect, highlighting what the factor reveals.

major determinant

Emphasizes the factor's role in shaping the outcome.

key determinant

Emphasizes the decisive role of the factor in defining the outcome.

crucial factor

Highlights the importance and necessity of the factor.

significant influence

Shifts from prediction to the impact the factor has.

primary driver

Focuses on the factor's role as a force behind the outcome.

strong correlate

Indicates a statistical relationship rather than direct prediction.

leading indicator

Specifically refers to a factor that precedes and signals future trends.

chief influence

Stresses the dominance of the factor's impact.

important variable

A more general term used in research contexts to denote a factor with noticeable impact.

FAQs

How do I use "key predictor" in a sentence?

The phrase "key predictor" is used to identify a significant factor that forecasts a particular outcome. For example, "Socioeconomic status is a "key predictor" of educational attainment."

What are some alternatives to "key predictor"?

You can use alternatives such as "major determinant", "primary indicator", or "crucial factor" depending on the specific context.

Is "key predictor" formal or informal?

"Key predictor" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more common in academic, scientific, and professional writing. It maintains a neutral tone.

What makes something a "key predictor" instead of just a "predictor"?

A "key predictor" is a particularly significant or influential predictor compared to other potential predictors. It suggests that this factor has a stronger or more reliable relationship with the outcome being predicted.