predictive of

USAGE SUMMARY

'predictive of' is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
For example, "The results of this study are predictive of future trends in the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

No other variables were predictive of success.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Some came from backgrounds predictive of reading difficulty.

The New Yorker

"What is predictive of elections are ideas and message".

The New York Times

And it is far less predictive of college performance than most people -- including admissions officers -- believe.

The New York Times

Commercial clusters have not been predictive of how people are going to vote".

The New York Times

Polling at this point has generally been reliably predictive of who will win.

The Guardian - Opinion

If someone fit none, then mental illness was highly unlikely to be predictive of violence.

The New Yorker

But I don't think ethnic solidarity is predictive of much in Iranian politics.

The New Yorker

It's "Mister Morn," however, that seems most enticingly predictive of Nabokov's great work.

The New Yorker

A good match was almost completely predictive of a good experience, so we will refine our algorithm.

The Guardian

Based on the past two Senate elections, polling in September is highly predictive of the final outcome.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "predictive of", clearly define what factors are being used to make the prediction and the specific outcome they predict. This adds clarity and strengthens the argument.

Common error

Avoid implying certainty when using "predictive of". Instead, acknowledge the limitations of the prediction and potential confounding factors. For example, avoid stating that something will happen; instead, say it is likely to happen.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "predictive of" serves as an adjective phrase functioning to describe something that has the ability to forecast or indicate a future outcome or state. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is widely utilized across diverse domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "predictive of" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to describe factors that can forecast future outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase enjoys widespread use across numerous domains. The analysis indicates that it's most common in scientific and news media contexts, implying a broad applicability in formal and neutral registers. To ensure effective writing, always clearly define the factors and outcomes when using "predictive of", and avoid overstating the certainty of the predictions. Remember that alternatives like "indicative of" and "prognostic of" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prognostic of

More specific to forecasting outcomes, especially in medical or scientific contexts.

indicative of

Focuses on suggesting something, acting as a sign or symptom, slightly less direct than predicting.

foretelling

A more direct synonym indicating the act of predicting the future.

a harbinger of

Refers to something that precedes and indicates a future event.

suggestive of

Implies a hint or indirect indication, less assertive than "predictive of".

anticipatory of

Indicates expectation or anticipation of a future event or outcome.

pointing towards

Emphasizes direction or trend, suggesting a likely outcome.

presaging

A more formal and literary term for indicating something in the future.

foreshadowing

Often used in literary contexts to imply future events, can replace the phrase with a verb.

implying

Suggests a likely consequence or result, less direct than stating a prediction.

FAQs

How do I use "predictive of" in a sentence?

Use "predictive of" to describe factors or indicators that suggest a future outcome. For example, "Early childhood experiences are often "predictive of" later academic success".

What are some alternatives to "predictive of"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "indicative of", "suggestive of", or "prognostic of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "predictive for" instead of "predictive of"?

While "predictive for" might sound similar, "predictive of" is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted usage. "Predictive for" is rarely used and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "predictive of" and "indicative of"?

"Predictive of" implies a stronger connection to future outcomes, suggesting a high probability. "Indicative of", on the other hand, simply suggests a sign or symptom without necessarily implying a strong predictive power.