pivotal to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pivotal to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is of crucial importance or central to a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The research findings were pivotal to the success of the project, influencing key decisions made by the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pivotal to the band dynamic?

The Guardian - Music

Animals are pivotal to vaccine research.

The Guardian

"It was pivotal to our negotiations".

The New York Times

"He's pivotal to the way we play.

The Guardian - Sport

Agriculture, in particular, is pivotal to the resource security agenda.

The Guardian

And the Yankees' playoff success is pivotal to Rodriguez's legacy.

The New York Times - Sports

This stretch should prove pivotal to their fortunes.

The New York Times - Sports

The region proved pivotal to her victory in November 2000.

The New York Times

Informed public debate will be pivotal to agreement being achieved.

The Guardian

"That chip card was pivotal to the system," Molenaar says.

The Guardian

Another player who's pivotal to that target: Javier Morales.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pivotal to", ensure that you clearly articulate what the subject is pivotal to. Providing context enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid overusing "pivotal to" for minor elements. Reserve it for truly decisive factors to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pivotal to" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition. It modifies a noun to emphasize its critical importance or role in a particular context. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in highlighting essential elements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pivotal to" is a powerful expression used to convey the crucial importance of something. As affirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an adjective phrase, highlighting that a specific element is essential for a particular outcome. While it enjoys broad applicability, remember to use it judiciously, reserving it for truly decisive factors. Alternatives such as "essential for" or "critical for" can add nuance depending on the specific context. Considering the vast array of examples provided by Ludwig, you can be confident in using it across various writing styles and registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential for

This alternative focuses on necessity rather than centrality, implying something is absolutely required.

critical for

This alternative emphasizes the high importance of something, suggesting potential negative consequences if it's lacking.

crucial for

Similar to "critical", this highlights the decisive importance of something.

vital for

This emphasizes the life-sustaining or indispensable nature of something.

key to

This suggests that something is an essential element for unlocking or achieving something else.

indispensable for

This highlights that something is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

fundamental to

This emphasizes that something is a basic and necessary part of the foundation of something else.

central to

This alternative emphasizes the core or most important aspect of something.

significant for

This suggests something has considerable importance or effect.

instrumental in

This implies that something is a means of achieving a particular purpose or result.

FAQs

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

Use "pivotal to" to describe something of crucial importance. For instance, "Effective communication is "pivotal to" a successful project."

What are some alternatives to "pivotal to"?

Alternatives include "essential for", "critical for", or "crucial for", depending on the context. Each emphasizes the importance of something in a slightly different way.

Is it better to say "pivotal for" or "pivotal to"?

"Pivotal to" is the correct and more common usage. "Pivotal for" is less frequent and can sound awkward to native English speakers.

What makes something "pivotal" rather than just "important"?

Something that is "pivotal" serves as a turning point or is critically significant for the outcome. It's not just generally important, but fundamentally changes the direction or success of something, compared to things that are only "important to".