underlying drive for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underlying drive for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a fundamental motivation or reason behind a particular behavior or action. Example: "The underlying drive for her success in the industry stems from her passion for innovation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"That's the highest level of completions we've seen in many years, and it coincides with the slowdown in the underlying drive for space," he said.

The New York Times

The underlying drive for all of my posturing was a sense of shame and resistance about who I am.

Huffington Post

The reasons for this turnover vary, but one underlying drive for crop replacement is the rapid loss of resistance traits.

EMBO Reports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Total energy density studies via finite-element methods (FEM) were also carried out for discussion on the possible evolution routes on the patterned substrate and their underlying driven forces.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Underlying the drive for a ward system is anxiety over development, which is transforming Putnam County from a rural haven into a suburban outpost.

The New York Times

The precuneus possesses a critical function in processing visual spatial information and spatially guided behavior [ 48], and the precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex) has recently been implicated in the mechanisms underlying enhanced motivational drive for a drug [ 49].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Pathetic contradictions underlie the ruthless drive for success in love and work, and Saunders weaves them into artful and sophisticated narrative webs.

The New York Times - Books

The principle indication for using ATT in uveitis is to treat the underlying systemic drive, which is believed to come from occult infection, antigenic mimicry or a hypersensitivity-type reaction to TB antigen.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

Second, our results provide evidence for the mechanisms underlying attention-driven learning.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

The underlying data-driven modeling has also been extended.

Bioinformatics

They also study the sensorimotor transformations underlying navigation driven by bitter sensing gustatory neurons.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "underlying drive for", ensure that you clearly articulate the specific action, behavior, or phenomenon that the drive is influencing. Provide context to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "underlying drive for" in contexts where the motivation is already obvious or well-understood. Ensure there's a layer of complexity or obscurity that warrants highlighting the fundamental cause. Otherwise, a simpler phrasing may suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underlying drive for" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the core, often unseen, motivation behind an action, behavior, or phenomenon. As Ludwig AI explains, it highlights the fundamental reason behind something. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, from market trends to personal behavior.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "underlying drive for" is a noun phrase used to express the primary, often hidden, motivation behind an action or event. As validated by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and most suitable for neutral to formal contexts like science, news, and business. It is considered rare and is used to explain the fundamental reasons influencing behaviors and decisions. When using the phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context for clarity, avoid overgeneralization, and consider simpler alternatives for informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental reason for

Replaces 'drive' with 'reason', focusing on the causative aspect.

basic motivation for

Substitutes 'drive' with 'motivation', highlighting the psychological aspect.

core impetus for

Uses 'impetus' instead of 'drive', suggesting a force that initiates action.

root cause of

Focuses on the origin or source of a particular phenomenon.

primary incentive for

Replaces 'drive' with 'incentive', emphasizing the motivating factor.

key motivator for

Highlights the main factor that motivates a certain action or behavior.

chief instigation for

Substitutes 'drive' with 'instigation', indicating the action of provoking or urging forward.

essential stimulus for

Uses 'stimulus' instead of 'drive', implying something that provokes activity or energy.

mainspring of

Replaces the entire phrase with a metaphor indicating the primary source of action.

underlying motive behind

Shifts focus slightly to the unstated or subconscious motivations.

FAQs

How can I use "underlying drive for" in a sentence?

Use "underlying drive for" to highlight the core motivation behind an action or phenomenon. For example, "The "underlying drive for" innovation is the need to stay competitive".

What are some alternatives to "underlying drive for"?

You can use alternatives like "fundamental reason for", "basic motivation for", or "core impetus for" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Check the related phrases above for more options.

Is "underlying drive for" too formal for casual writing?

While "underlying drive for" is suitable for formal writing, in casual contexts, consider using simpler alternatives such as "main reason for" or "key motivation behind" to maintain a conversational tone.

What's the difference between "underlying drive for" and "superficial reason for"?

"Underlying drive for" refers to a deep-seated, fundamental cause, while "superficial reason for" describes a surface-level or less significant cause. The former is more impactful and less obvious than the latter.