nerve center

USAGE SUMMARY

"nerve center" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a place where a lot of important activities take place; typically it is used to refer to the heart of operations, such as a major business office or government building. For example: "The White House is the nerve center of the United States government, making it one of the most important buildings in the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An analytics nerve center.

Harvard Business Review

Heading up the nerve center?

Harvard Business Review

It was an economic nerve center.

The New York Times

"He controls the nerve center of the media," Chalabi says.

The New York Times - Magazine

Chitpur Road was the nerve center of Black Town.

The New York Times - Travel

You need a nerve center, not a wall.

The Washington Post

Swift is the nerve center of the global banking industry.

The New York Times

Sims functions almost as the nerve center within the offense.

The New York Times - Sports

Downstairs, the "money pit," the nerve center for frenetic fundraising calls, is silent for now.

The Washington Post

THE building, which was completed in 1908, was the nerve center of the Montgomery Ward empire.

The New York Times

The well functions as a center of gravity, focusing attention on the paper's nerve center.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nerve center" to describe a location or system that is the primary point of control, communication, or coordination for an organization or activity.

Common error

Avoid using "nerve center" when a simpler term like "headquarters" or "main office" would suffice. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nerve center" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an appositive. It identifies a location or entity that is the core of operational activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nerve center" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe a central location for controlling and coordinating activities. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. Its communicative purpose emphasizes the critical role of the identified location or system. The phrase carries a neutral tone, lending itself to diverse contexts from news reporting to formal business communications. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business", "nerve center" effectively conveys the core operational hub of an organization or activity. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives such as "hub of operations" or "control center" depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hub of operations

Focuses on the functional aspect of a central point.

control center

Emphasizes the aspect of command and regulation.

operational headquarters

Highlights the strategic and command aspects of a location.

command post

Suggests a military or emergency response context.

central command

Similar to command post but may imply a broader scope of control.

strategic center

Emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and execution.

core of activity

Highlights the central role in ongoing processes.

focal point

Describes a place where attention or activity converges.

epicenter

Implies the origin or most intense point of an activity.

heart of the matter

Metaphorically refers to the central or most important aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "nerve center" in a sentence?

Use "nerve center" to describe the core operational hub of an organization or system. For example, "The Pentagon is the "nerve center" of the United States Department of Defense".

What are some alternatives to "nerve center"?

Alternatives include "hub of operations", "control center", or "headquarters", depending on the specific context.

Is "nerve center" a formal or informal phrase?

"Nerve center" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it tends to be more common in news reporting and business writing than in casual conversation.

What does it mean for a place to be described as the "nerve center"?

It means the place is the primary point from which activities are controlled, coordinated, or communicated. It's essential for decision-making and overall functioning.