the foundation by which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the foundation by which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the underlying basis or principle that supports or enables something to occur or exist. Example: "Trust is the foundation by which strong relationships are built."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They are the foundation by which everything else comes about.

TechCrunch

To a certain degree, maintaining stability has become the foundation by which the central government chooses to intervene in popular protests.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Recent events that have tested our trust have had a particularly acute impact on Main Street, challenging the foundation by which America has been built.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Our near-term objective is to develop the foundations by which 20-30 circuit programs can be reliably built.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In our recent posts focusing on Nature's Trust, we have argued that natural resources are ours to own and to control, and that we have in the public trust document the legal foundation by which to take them back and change how they are used for the benefit of all mankind.

HuffPost

"This is an integrity issue that erodes the basic foundation by which we are judged," the report said.

Los Angeles Times

We will base this mode of production on a foundation by which all the peoples of the region will be included and benefit from it," one Rojava official from the Afrin canton, Dr. Ahmet Yusuf, told the PKK-linked Kurdish outlet ANF News last December.

Huffington Post

This issue needs to be further explored and defined in the upcoming years to provide a firm foundation by which pretreatment and biological deconstruction can be rationally optimized from first principles.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

The result will be a much more defensible foundation by which to start.

HuffPost

What we have found is that if an early-stage founder can check off the ten items below, they have a solid foundation by which to start a company.

HuffPost

The foundation, which by 2005 had an endowment of more than $1 billion, gave millions of dollars to help victims of the 2004 tsunami in southern Asia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the foundation by which" when you want to emphasize the fundamental or essential basis that supports a concept, argument, or system. It's often appropriate in formal writing or academic discourse.

Common error

Avoid using "the foundation by which" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "the basis for" or "the reason why" are usually more appropriate and sound less pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the foundation by which" acts as a prepositional phrase, functioning primarily to introduce a clause that specifies the underlying basis or principle upon which something is established or operates. Ludwig AI's examples demonstrate its usage in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the foundation by which" is a formal prepositional phrase used to denote the fundamental basis or principle upon which something is built or operates. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct but relatively rare. Its use is most appropriate in formal, academic, or professional contexts where precision is valued over casual language. Alternatives such as "the basis on which" may be more suitable in less formal settings. While grammatically sound, overusing this phrase in everyday language can sound pretentious. The phrase appears in news, scientific and academic articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the basis on which

Focuses on the underlying reason or justification, slightly less formal.

the grounds upon which

Emphasizes the justification or rationale, more formal.

the principle under which

Highlights the guiding rule or doctrine, slightly more abstract.

the method through which

Focuses on the process or procedure involved, less about the rationale.

the framework within which

Implies a structured system or set of rules, less about the fundamental reason.

the mechanism whereby

Highlights the specific process or system enabling something.

the structure through which

Focuses on the organizational aspect that enables an outcome.

the system by means of which

Emphasizes the formalized or established way of achieving something.

the cornerstone upon which

Implies a fundamental and indispensable element.

the bedrock whereon

Suggests a solid and unshakeable base or principle.

FAQs

How can I use "the foundation by which" in a sentence?

Use "the foundation by which" to introduce the core principle or basis upon which something else is built or depends. For example, "Trust is "the foundation by which" strong relationships are sustained."

What are some alternatives to "the foundation by which"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "the basis on which", "the grounds upon which", or "the principle under which".

Is "the foundation by which" formal or informal?

"The foundation by which" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, professional, or technical writing.

How does "the foundation by which" differ from "the process by which"?

"The foundation by which" refers to the underlying basis or core principle, whereas "the process by which" refers to the specific steps or actions taken to achieve something.