play a formative role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "play a formative role" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which someone or something has an influence on the development of something else. For example, "The teacher played a formative role in encouraging the students to think critically."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Muzzey would play a formative role in Henry's life.

The New York Times

Wildfires play a formative role in the processes that have created the ecosystems of the Southern Rockies Ecoregion SREEcoregion SRE

Forest Ecology and Management

Television, DVDs, video games, the Internet, and smart phones all play a formative role in children's development.

Neuron

Ms. Reidy was hired too late in the game to play a formative role in pursuing the Democratic and Republican conventions.

The New York Times

Television talk shows play a formative role in shaping public debate in Egypt, and Egyptian intelligence services often brief the presenters of the programs about messages to convey to the public.

The New York Times

With the presence of swastika tattoos, and the general demography of the rally's participants, it is obvious that race still remains central to our political culture in a constitutive sense; being "white" continues to play a formative role in how we construct what it means to be authentically Aussie.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Taking account of participants' physical practices within sacred spaces, I suggest that these sensory experiences played a formative role for Muslims and for the Islamic identities they formed, both during the pilgrimage and afterwards.

Columbia University

Light plays a formative role in some of these shots, and the approaches are more venturesome, some suggestive, some prim.

The New York Times - Arts

The town played a formative role in punk, thanks to McLaren, Reid and The Damned, and would later spawn dubstep.

The Guardian

Whoever wrote it played a formative role in shaping the modern American Christmas, said Stephen Nissenbaum, author of the history "The Battle for Christmas" (Knopf, 1996).

The New York Times - Books

However, beginning in the 1950s, predominantly white American parents' adoption of Asian children played a formative role in making adoption global and transracial.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "play a formative role", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being formed or developed. For example, "Education plays a formative role in shaping a child's future."

Common error

Avoid using "play a formative role" when the influence is minor or indirect. Reserve it for situations where the impact is substantial and directly contributes to the development of something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play a formative role" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of influencing or shaping the development of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "play a formative role" effectively conveys the idea of significantly influencing the development of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. As evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it's commonly used in news, scientific, and academic writing to emphasize the importance of a factor in shaping an outcome. While alternatives like "have a significant impact" or "shape the development" exist, "play a formative role" specifically highlights the influence on development. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being formed or developed, and the level of influence is substantial. This phrase maintains a neutral to formal tone, making it suitable for diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a significant impact

Focuses on the degree of influence rather than the developmental aspect.

exert a defining influence

Highlights the power to determine the course of development.

contribute to the formation

Emphasizes the act of contributing to a developmental process.

shape the development

Focuses on the active shaping of something's growth.

mold the character

Specifically refers to influencing someone's character.

influence the evolution

Highlights impact of something changing over time.

leave a lasting impression

Highlights the enduring quality of the impact.

play a crucial part

Focuses on the importance of the contribution.

be instrumental in the growth

Emphasizes being a key factor in growth.

have a hand in shaping

Suggests active involvement in the shaping process.

FAQs

How can I use "play a formative role" in a sentence?

You can use "play a formative role" to describe something that significantly influences the development of something else. For example, "Mentors often "play a formative role" in a young professional's career".

What are some alternatives to "play a formative role"?

Alternatives include "have a significant impact", "shape the development", or "contribute to the formation" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "play a formative role" in formal writing?

Yes, "play a formative role" is suitable for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and widely used in academic, scientific, and professional contexts.

What's the difference between "play a formative role" and "play an important role"?

"Play an important role" indicates general significance, while "play a formative role" specifically emphasizes influence on the development or formation of something. The latter is more specific about the nature of the impact.