underlying association

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underlying association" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a fundamental connection or relationship between two or more concepts, variables, or phenomena. Example: "The researchers aimed to uncover the underlying association between diet and mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Our findings suggest a pathological basis for AE-associated sleep abnormalities and a mechanism underlying association of absence seizures with wake sleep transitions.

Neurobiology of Disease

Together these data provide novel insight into the molecular regulation of ErbB4 alternative splicing in human brain across development, clarify the exon-intron structure of ErbB4 and suggest that a mechanism underlying association of risk polymorphisms in ErbB4 with schizophrenia and CYT-1 expression [7] does not involve exon 3 skipping.

Plosone

The present finding further suggested that the PHG may be a pivotal region underlying association memory process.

BioMed Research International

Better understanding of these aspects will provide important clues underlying association of specific biomarkers with disease biology.

Cancer Medicine

Therefore, we used an ad hoc threshold of 10−4 to assess genomic regions underlying association peaks for the presence of candidate genes.

DNA Research

eQTL analysis is an important approach in detecting functional mechanisms underlying association by testing whether identified variants may lead to variations in mRNA expression of nearby genes.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

However, the specific mechanisms underlying associations of neighborhood characteristics with health are not fully understood.

Sleep Health

Temporal patterns underlying associations in the co-occurrence of cancers are useful in discerning the predominant aetiology underlying these associations.

British Journal of Cancer

Second, the mechanisms underlying associations between breast density and risk need investigation.

British Journal of Cancer

As this was a cross-sectional study, causality underlying associations cannot be assumed.

BMC Public Health

First, we used broad categorizations of marital status and IPI which may inadvertently mask underlying associations.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "underlying association", clearly define the elements being associated to avoid ambiguity. Specify what connects them.

Common error

Avoid implying a direct cause-and-effect relationship when describing an "underlying association". Clearly state if the association is correlational rather than causal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underlying association" functions as a noun phrase that describes a fundamental relationship or connection. It is often used to introduce a concept requiring further investigation, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underlying association" is a grammatically sound and scientifically favored term used to describe a fundamental, often non-obvious, relationship. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is predominantly found in scientific and academic contexts, signaling areas ripe for further investigation. While grammatically correct, it's important to clearly define associated elements and avoid implying causation without sufficient evidence. Alternatives like "fundamental link" or "basic relationship" offer similar meanings, yet the original phrase maintains a specific nuance favored in scholarly discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental link

Changes "association" to "link" emphasizing a direct connection.

root connection

Replaces "underlying" with "root", highlighting the foundational aspect of the connection.

basic relationship

Substitutes "underlying association" with a more general term for connection, simplifying the language.

causal mechanism

Focuses specifically on a cause-and-effect relationship, which may be implied by an underlying association.

core linkage

Replaces both words to emphasize central and important link.

primary correlation

Correlation is more statistical term which could eventually fit in specific scientific context.

foundational relationship

Highlights the role as a foundation for something more complex.

hidden connection

Emphasizes that the link is not obvious or easily seen.

intrinsic link

Emphasizes that the association is inherent.

latent relationship

Indicates that relationship is there but not yet developed

FAQs

What does "underlying association" mean?

The phrase "underlying association" refers to a fundamental or foundational connection between two or more things. It suggests a relationship that may not be immediately obvious but is significant.

How can I use "underlying association" in a sentence?

You can use "underlying association" when you want to describe a relationship that explains or connects different phenomena. For example: "Researchers are investigating the "fundamental link" between poverty and health outcomes."

What are some alternatives to "underlying association"?

Some alternatives include "basic relationship", "root connection", or "causal mechanism", depending on the specific context you're describing.

Is it correct to use "underlying associations" instead of "underlying association"?

Yes, "underlying associations" is the plural form and is correct when referring to multiple relationships. For example, "The study explored the underlying associations between lifestyle factors and chronic disease."