pivotal influence

USAGE SUMMARY

"pivotal influence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or crucial influence on something or someone. Example: "Her mother's support and guidance played a pivotal influence in her decision to pursue a career in medicine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

She concluded that the work of Charles Darwin had been a pivotal influence on Barrie's work.

The Guardian - Books

Greenspan, as Cassidy recounts, credited Adam Smith, the bookish Scotsman, as a pivotal influence.

The New York Times - Books

Positioned in the middle, free to roam and do damage, he was a pivotal influence.

The Guardian - Sport

Both were struck by his word setting, but for Tippett it was Purcell's sprung rhythms that were a pivotal influence.

The Guardian - Music

Only their groundbreaking 2006-7 tour, a pivotal influence on America's subsequent electronic dance music boom, was an unmitigated triumph.

The Guardian - Music

Early Chinese evidentiary techniques had a pivotal influence on Japan's rulers in the 7th and 8th centuries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

It was short steps from them to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, but Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell and T Rex were all pivotal influences, too.

The Guardian - Music

Pivotal influences and key events in the history of the development of the DNT guideline (Table 2) include both research on test methods development and efforts to characterize and document the sensitivity, reliability, and performance of the test methods, including a number of intralaboratory collaborative efforts.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Since 2004, they have been a pivotal radicalising influence on Ken Livingstone's administration.

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, along with elderly maternal great-uncles, who are often the households' second-in-charge, younger uncles are the pivotal male influence on children.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Other talented filmmakers like Kevin Smith, Simon Pegg and Jon Favreau have also referenced the original Star Wars as being a pivotal early influence on them.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pivotal influence" when you want to emphasize that something or someone had a crucial and decisive effect. Ensure that the context clearly demonstrates the significance of this influence.

Common error

Avoid using "pivotal influence" to describe effects that are merely contributory or secondary. The term implies a defining impact, so reserve it for situations where the influence truly altered the course of events or decisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pivotal influence" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something as having a decisive or crucial impact. Examples in Ludwig showcase it describing significant factors in various domains, such as historical events, artistic movements, and personal development. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pivotal influence" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe something that has a decisive or crucial impact. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and numerous examples demonstrate its usage across diverse fields, including news, science, and academia. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media sources, but is also common in Scientific papers and academic publications. When using "pivotal influence", ensure that you are accurately representing a significant and transformative impact, rather than a minor contribution. Consider alternatives like "key impact" or "critical effect" if the context requires a slightly different nuance. Use the phrase when emphasizing the turning-point nature of influence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key impact

Replaces "influence" with "impact" and "pivotal" with "key", slightly changing the emphasis but retaining the core meaning.

critical effect

Substitutes "pivotal" with "critical" and "influence" with "effect", focusing on the decisive nature of the impact.

essential role

Replaces "influence" with "role", indicating the necessary part something plays, and "pivotal" with "essential", highlighting its indispensable nature.

significant factor

Shifts the focus to considering the influence as a contributing factor that is of great importance.

major force

Changes the structure to describe the influence as a powerful "force", emphasizing strength and direction.

primary driver

Presents the influence as the main "driver", indicating a causal and propelling effect.

central element

Focuses on the idea of the influence being a necessary "element", integral to a larger structure or outcome.

cornerstone

Metaphorically represents the influence as a "cornerstone", indicating foundational importance.

decisive effect

Emphasizes the finality and determination of the influence on the outcome.

determining influence

Highlights the conclusive nature of the influence, asserting that it "determines" an outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "pivotal influence" in a sentence?

Use "pivotal influence" to describe a person, event, or factor that had a decisive impact on something else. For example, "Her mentorship had a pivotal influence on my career path."

What are some alternatives to "pivotal influence"?

You can use alternatives like "key impact", "critical effect", or "essential role" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "very pivotal influence"?

Yes, saying "very pivotal influence" is generally redundant. "Pivotal" already implies a critical and decisive level of influence, so adding "very" doesn't add meaningful emphasis.

What's the difference between "pivotal influence" and "significant influence"?

"Pivotal influence" suggests a turning point or decisive impact, while "significant influence" simply indicates that the influence was important or noteworthy but not necessarily transformative. Therefore, pivotal influence is often stronger.