key staple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "key staple" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an essential or fundamental item or element in a particular context, such as food, resources, or concepts. Example: "Rice is a key staple in many Asian diets, providing a primary source of carbohydrates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Potatoes are a key staple crop all over the world.

MIT Technology Review

Timor-Leste is a small predominantly agrarian society based on subsistence agriculture with maize as the key staple crop and food.

Field Crops Research

Bread, a key staple here, is increasingly scarce and many hospitals are working at half capacity, suspending non-emergency surgeries and dialysis.

The Guardian

The scrum has gained such a bad reputation in recent years that there have been calls for it to be depowered but it remains a means of disarming opponents and a key staple of the game that needs rule reinforcement rather than tinkering.

The Guardian - Sport

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, which has organised the conference in partnership with others, said: "This conference is urgently needed as banana and plantain are key staple crops in rural households in Africa, which are being increasingly targeted for income generation through improved linkages with the private sector.

The Guardian

Given this backdrop, we develop a short-term acreage response model for the aforementioned key staple crops for major producing countries.

Agricultural and Food Economics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It predicts international price rises of key staples in the region of 120-180% by 2030.

The Guardian

Magic rings, love potions, gods, dragons, talking birds and singing animals have always been key staples in the store house of opera.

The Guardian - Music

While Foodbank's key staples program deals with pantry stores, OzHarvest collects surplus food from supermarket and the hospitality sector and diverts it to those in need.

The Guardian

In China, food prices rose about 7percentt last year, according to official statistics, prompting the government to release some of its emergency reserves and put restrictions on sales of key staples such as wheat to try to prevent hoarding or speculation.

The Washington Post

Guardian Australia understands the $4.5m had originally been budgeted over three years for two organisations, but with the government now spreading it across three, Foodbank's key staples program was cut.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "key staple", ensure the context clearly establishes why the item is both important (key) and a fundamental part of something (staple).

Common error

Avoid using "key staple" for items that are merely popular or common. Reserve it for elements genuinely essential and foundational to a particular system, diet, or process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "key staple" primarily functions as a compound noun phrase. It is used to describe something that is both essential (key) and a fundamental part of something else (staple). Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples from a variety of sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "key staple" is a useful term for emphasizing the essential and fundamental nature of an item or concept. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and provides various examples across different domains, including news, science, and business. Remember to reserve "key staple" for items that are genuinely critical and foundational, rather than merely common or popular. For alternative wording, consider "essential item", "primary component", or "fundamental resource" to best fit the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basic necessity

Stresses the essential nature of the staple for survival or well-being.

essential item

Replaces 'key staple' with a more generic term, focusing on the necessity of the item.

crucial element

Emphasizes the critical importance of the staple.

core element

Focuses on the central and indispensable nature of the staple.

fundamental resource

Emphasizes the resource aspect of the staple, highlighting its foundational role.

primary component

Highlights the staple's role as a major part of a larger system or entity.

vital commodity

Highlights the importance of the staple as a valuable resource.

indispensable asset

Focuses on the irreplaceable quality and value of the staple.

major source

Focuses on the origin or supply aspect of the staple, indicating its significance in providing something.

cornerstone

This word paints a more figurative picture, implying something crucial that other things build upon.

FAQs

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

You can use "key staple" to describe an essential item or component, such as "Rice is a "key staple" in many Asian diets" or "Reliable transportation is a "key staple" for economic development".

What's a good alternative to "key staple"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "essential item", "fundamental resource", or "primary component".

Is "key staple" redundant? Can't something just be a "staple"?

While "staple" implies importance, ""key staple"" emphasizes the item's critical and indispensable nature within a specific context. It highlights that not all staples are equally important.

When is it appropriate to use "key staple" instead of simply "staple"?

Use ""key staple"" when you want to specifically emphasize that something is not just a regular part of something, but is absolutely essential or fundamental to it, perhaps more so than other staples.