the foundational premise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the foundational premise" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence such as: "The foundational premise of the argument was that technology could provide a solution to poverty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They believe in the "foundational premise" of the pro-life cause, which is that unborn children are human beings from the moment of conception, but they also have a strong intuition that women should be able to have abortions in cases of rape or incest.

The New Yorker

The memorial commemorated the terror attack of 9/11 and NATO's response, manifesting the foundational premise underpinning NATO, set forth in Article 5 of the NATO Charter, that an attack against one member was an attack against all. .

Huffington Post

The foundational premise of the piece is that higher education must now "make up for the mistakes it made in what I call the industry's 'lost decade,' from 1999 to 2009.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The foundational premises of the LC4MP is that humans have a limited amount of cognitive resources, which they strategically allocate to complete the mental tasks involved in perceiving, comprehending, and remembering information they encounter.

Fashion and Textiles

The foundational assumption itself is flawed.

Huffington Post

Mary recalls our several shows on her favorite book of 2012, Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind, which explained how most of us come to intuitive decisions and then search for rationalizations so we don't have to listen to people on the other side... which is a foundational premise of the need for a Both Sides Now.

Huffington Post

Rather than setting out his philosophy comprehensively in the form of a system based on foundational premises, Leibowitz generally wrote short articles devoted to specific topics.

SEP

This orientation is clearly presented in related foundational premises (FPs) of S-D logic [2].

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Quite literally, the foundational basis for Silver and Clinton's premise comes pure and uncut from the heart of 2016 political media consensus.

Huffington Post

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed in the foundational tree species Pinus edulis to investigate population differentiation of P. edulis and hybridization among closely related species.

Applications in Plant Sciences

2. What are the foundational elements of the Greek economy?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the foundational premise", ensure that the premise is indeed fundamental to the argument or concept being discussed. Avoid using it for minor or tangential points.

Common error

Avoid using "the foundational premise" when a simpler term like "basic idea" or "main concept" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the foundational premise" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a core assumption or principle upon which an argument, theory, or system is based. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the foundational premise" is a noun phrase that denotes a fundamental assumption or principle. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and scientific contexts, reflecting a formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the premise is indeed foundational to the argument. Alternative phrasings like "the basic principle" or "the underlying concept" might be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the fundamental assumption

This alternative replaces "premise" with "assumption", focusing on the underlying belief.

the basic principle

This alternative uses "principle" to denote a guiding rule or belief, simplifying the phrase.

the core tenet

This uses "tenet" which refers to the central belief or doctrine.

the underlying concept

This option emphasizes the conceptual basis, rather than the propositional nature of a premise.

the central idea

This highlights the most important thought or notion.

the key proposition

This replaces "premise" with "proposition", focusing on a statement or assertion.

the starting point

This simplifies the phrase to indicate an initial assumption or idea.

the root cause

Shifts the focus to the origin or reason for something.

the primary basis

Replaces "foundational" with "primary" and "premise" with "basis", stressing the fundamental support.

the essential groundwork

This uses "groundwork" which refers to the preliminary or basic work.

FAQs

How can "the foundational premise" be used in a sentence?

You can use "the foundational premise" to introduce a fundamental idea upon which an argument or theory is built. For example: "The foundational premise of the study was that early childhood experiences significantly impact adult behavior."

What are some alternatives to "the foundational premise"?

Alternatives include "the fundamental assumption", "the basic principle", or "the underlying concept", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "foundational premise" or "fundamental premise"?

Both "foundational premise" and "fundamental premise" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, though "foundational" may slightly emphasize the idea of a base or groundwork.

What's the difference between "the foundational premise" and "the underlying assumption"?

"The foundational premise" typically refers to a specific statement or proposition that serves as a starting point for reasoning. "The underlying assumption" is a broader term referring to any implicit belief that supports an argument or idea, which may not be explicitly stated.