this is foundational

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is foundational" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something serves as a basic or essential element for understanding or building upon a concept or idea. Example: "In our discussion about education reform, it's important to recognize that this is foundational to creating effective policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

For Facebook's part, this is foundational research in that it seems to raise far more questions than it seeks to answer about best practices, but even grasping at those is an important milestone and a good direction to point the broader community in taking on hard problems that need to be tackled the company's researchers say.

TechCrunch

This is foundational to the cooperative movement and a principal that must never be violated.

Huffington Post

This is foundational members Keith Morris, Dez Cadena and Chuck Dukowski, along with Steven McDonald (Redd Cross, Off!) and Bill Stevenson (Descendents, All), playing Black Flag classics.

Los Angeles Times

This is foundational to diabetes "system awareness," or building information systems that are able to construct and maintain awareness of a patient's status across time, setting, provider, and context.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"This consent is foundational and shouldn't be underestimated in any way.

The Guardian

At the bottom of the table, there is a question: "Will the survivors envy the dead?" Kahn believed and this belief is foundational for every argument in his book that the answer is no.

The New Yorker

At the bottom of the table, there is a question: "Will the survivors envy the dead?" Kahn believed — and this belief is foundational for every argument in his book — that the answer is no.

The New Yorker

As one of the most diverse states in the nation, this diversity is foundational to the strength of our communities and to the legitimacy of our institutions.

Huffington Post

This logic is foundational to the human rights movement that establishes broader commitment to persons whether they are within politically bounded states or transnational.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

This information is foundational for public awareness and policy recommendations, health promotion and prevention strategies, appropriate health resource planning, and research priorities.

BMC Geriatrics

Although the results from the phase II trial will not be definitive, this step is foundational and the knowledge that will be generated will be incorporated into the design and execution of a multi-center phase III RCT.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this is foundational" to introduce core principles or ideas before elaborating on their implications or applications, ensuring the audience understands the fundamental importance of the concept.

Common error

Avoid using "this is foundational" for concepts that are merely important or helpful but not truly essential. Overstating the foundational nature of a concept can diminish the impact of the term when applied to genuinely critical elements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is foundational" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, attributing a quality of being fundamental or essential to a subject. Ludwig examples show it describing research, principles, and steps that form a basis for subsequent actions or understanding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this is foundational" is a phrase used to underscore the essential and fundamental nature of something. It is grammatically correct and, according to Ludwig, suitable for various contexts, especially in academic, scientific, and professional settings. While relatively uncommon, when used correctly, it effectively conveys that the identified subject is a crucial base for further development or understanding. To maximize its impact, ensure the context clarifies what depends on this foundation and support the claim with evidence when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this is fundamental

Replaces "foundational" with "fundamental", emphasizing the essential and basic nature of something.

this is essential

Replaces "foundational" with "essential", highlighting the necessity and importance of something.

this is basic

Substitutes "foundational" with "basic", stressing the elementary and initial aspect of something.

this is rudimentary

Uses "rudimentary" instead of "foundational", indicating that something provides the initial basis.

this is at the base

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the base nature of subject.

this is the groundwork

Replacing with "groundwork", emphasizes that a preliminary or preparatory work.

this is the cornerstone

Suggests something is a vital element on which everything else depends.

this is the bedrock

Emphasizes that something is a solid foundation.

this is the infrastructure

Draws attention to the underlying structure.

this is the keystone

Emphasizes that without it, the whole structure would fall.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "this is foundational" in a sentence?

Use "this is foundational" to emphasize that something is a necessary base for further development or understanding. For example, "Understanding basic arithmetic "is foundational" to learning algebra".

What are some alternatives to saying "this is foundational"?

You can use alternatives such as "this is fundamental", "this is essential", or "this is basic" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is the phrase "this is foundational" most appropriate?

The phrase "this is foundational" is suitable in contexts where you need to highlight the essential nature of something, such as in academic discussions, business strategies, or scientific explanations. It's used to establish a base understanding before moving to more complex topics.

How does "this is foundational" differ from "this is important"?

"This is important" simply indicates significance, whereas "this is foundational" suggests that something serves as a base or prerequisite for something else. "This is important" is a broader statement of value, while "this is foundational" implies a structural relationship.