serving as the cornerstone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serving as the cornerstone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is fundamental or essential to the foundation of a concept, project, or system. Example: "The new policy is serving as the cornerstone of our strategy for improving employee engagement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Though mocked and caricatured in Private Eye, he fulfilled his role in a most intelligent way, serving as the cornerstone of Margaret's life and always placing her interests before his own.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Just as Brady and Manning each epitomized his squad's character and offensive personality, Revis serves as the cornerstone of a team built on defense.

The New York Times - Sports

It is formalized in the sense that roles, relationships, and behaviours therein are prescribed in a set of rules, which serves as the cornerstone of rational-legal authority.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Typhoon will be an agile multi-role fighter that will serve as the cornerstone of the RAF's future fighting capability.

The Economist

Under the proposals, recommendations for these more active people would continue to be available but would no longer serve as the cornerstone of government nutrition information.

The New York Times

Bates College Museum Founded in honor of Lewiston's most famous native, Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), the Bates College Museum of Art is the largest repository of his drawings, which serve as the cornerstone of the museum's collection.

The New York Times - Arts

Her personal mythology serves as the cornerstone of a prevailing prejudice masquerading as adulation: at the height of feminine perfection, a woman is an asset to be flaunted and strategically weaponized less, not more, than the sum of her parts.

The New Yorker

More specifically, that's when they begin preparing gà chiên muôi ot or "fried chicken salt chili," the popular dish that serves as the cornerstone of the lucrative lunch service they've been operating in the 3rd district of Ho Chi Minh City for three decades.

The Guardian

He added: "The project started by contacting members of the Jewish community from where I grew up, and evolved into travels across the world to capture orthodox Jews who, although they live thousands of miles apart, are bound together by history, tradition and a set of values that serve as the cornerstone of the lives of many who live in today's society".

The Guardian - Arts

Introduction Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have served as the cornerstone of long-term anticoagulant therapy.

Annals of Intensive Care

Interestingly, the Panchsheel served as the cornerstone of China's foreign policy and have remained so until today.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serving as the cornerstone", ensure that the subject truly provides fundamental support or importance to the concept or system you are describing. This phrase adds weight and significance to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "serving as the cornerstone" for elements that are merely contributors or components but not fundamentally essential. Overusing the phrase diminishes its impact and can make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serving as the cornerstone" functions as a predicate nominative or a predicate adjective, attributing a quality or role to the subject. It describes something that is fundamental or essential. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in defining crucial elements within various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serving as the cornerstone" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to highlight the fundamental or essential nature of something. Ludwig AI indicates it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal writing. While commonly used, it's crucial to avoid overstating the importance of an element and use the phrase judiciously. Alternatives such as "acting as the foundation" or "constituting the bedrock" can be considered depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Always ensure that the subject truly provides fundamental support to justify the gravitas of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acting as the foundation

Focuses more on the support role, less on importance.

functioning as the basis

Highlights the role as the underlying principle or starting point.

operating as the key element

Emphasizes the importance of being a central component.

constituting the bedrock

Stresses the fundamental and unshakeable nature.

providing the main support

Highlights the supportive aspect of the phrase.

forming the central pillar

Implies a strong and upright supporting role.

establishing the groundwork

Suggests the initial steps in building something significant.

underpinning the structure

Focuses on providing a hidden but essential support.

at the heart of

A more metaphorical way of expressing central importance.

essential to

A simpler and more direct way to express necessity.

FAQs

How can I use "serving as the cornerstone" in a sentence?

You can use "serving as the cornerstone" to describe something that is essential or fundamental to a larger structure or concept. For example: "Integrity is serving as the cornerstone of their business philosophy."

What phrases are similar to "serving as the cornerstone"?

Similar phrases include "acting as the foundation", "functioning as the basis", and "constituting the bedrock".

Is "serving as the cornerstone" formal or informal?

"Serving as the cornerstone" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, as demonstrated by its usage in news, academic, and business publications.

What's the difference between "serving as the cornerstone" and "serving as the foundation"?

While both phrases indicate support, "serving as the cornerstone" implies a more significant and indispensable role than "serving as the foundation". A cornerstone is the essential building block, while a foundation can be more general.