material to something

USAGE SUMMARY

"material to something" is correct and perfectly usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is essential or relevant to something else. For example, "The report provides important material to our research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"The risk is that it would be relatively easy for Iran to further enrich that material to something that is usable in a nuclear weapon".

The New York Times

The study of reaction mechanisms is complicated by the reversibility of most reactions (the tendency of the reaction products to revert to the starting materials) and by the existence of competing reactions (reactions that convert the starting material to something other than the desired products).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The new look and organizational theory reflects SoundCloud's need to go from a site organized around community sharing of legally gray material to something resembling a more legitimate streaming audio business that partners with professional media makers.

TechCrunch

To capture the attention of your audience, relate the class material to something with which your audience is very familiar yet which provides some mystery or puzzle.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Using fresher material to make something spectacular on its own terms remains the job that needs doing.

The New Yorker

Both the choreography and the songs, composed by Paul Katz and Howard Marren with lyrics by Mr. Katz, give the performers enough material to make something vivid of the characters.

The New York Times - Arts

It is a bold scene, confidently using scholarly material to suggest something of Housman's unrequited passion for his fellow-student, the heartily heterosexual Moses Jackson.

The Guardian

Laundering does not seem to affect its conductivity much either.Electrically conductive cloth is all very well, but the more interesting part of Dr Cui's research is that he can use the new material to make something called a supercapacitor.

The Economist

We also loved the surprises: the poems that start off being about one thing and end up being about another; the poems that comment on the article they came from; the poems that smash together unlikely words and images, or a clever combination of Times source material, to say something new.

The New York Times

Basically, you can't just repost someone else's original work, but you can use parts of copyrighted material to create something new.

Vice

It may be that I would care less about the pedestrian material in this over-ambitious, over-blown piece in a performance that sizzled across the board, filled with singing actors capable of rising far above the material to make something real and affecting out of it.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "material to something", ensure the connection between the material and the resulting entity or concept is clear and logical.

Common error

Avoid using "material to something" when a direct causative relationship isn't present. The phrase implies that the material is directly transformed or directly relevant, so choose a different expression when it isn't so.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "material to something" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, indicating the relationship or relevance of a particular material in the context of a transformation or connection to another element. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "material to something" is a prepositional phrase used to describe the relevance or transformation of a material in relation to an outcome or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct. Though its usage is not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse contexts ranging from news to science. When writing, it's important to ensure that the material is directly transformed or has a direct relevance. Alternatives such as "relevant to something", "essential to something", or "contributing to something" can offer subtle variations in meaning depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relevant to something

Focuses on the direct relevance or applicability of one thing to another, similar to "material to something".

pertinent to something

Emphasizes the direct and clear relevance of the subject matter to something else.

applicable to something

Highlights the possibility of using something for a specific purpose or situation.

essential to something

Stresses the indispensable nature of something for a particular outcome or entity.

contributing to something

Indicates that something is playing a role in bringing something about.

transforming into something

Focuses on the process of change from one state to another.

converting into something

Implies a specific action or change from one form into another.

evolving into something

Suggests a gradual development process toward a new or more advanced form.

developing into something

Conveys a sense of progression that results in a more intricate result.

leading to something

Indicates that something is a cause or prerequisite for something else to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "material to something" in a sentence?

Use "material to something" when you want to describe how raw material can be related to something. For example, you might say, "The research provided important "material to something" substantial.".

What's a good substitute for "material to something"?

Alternatives to "material to something" include "relevant to something", "essential to something", or "contributing to something", depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is "material to something" most appropriate?

"Material to something" is suitable in academic, scientific, and formal contexts where a clear transformation or relevance is being described.

Is "material to something" formal or informal language?

"Material to something" leans towards formal usage. In more casual conversation, phrases like "important for" or "used for" might be more appropriate.