underpinning principle

USAGE SUMMARY

"underpinning principle" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It refers to an idea or concept that serves as the foundation or basis for something, and is often used with the meaning of a moral or ethical code. For example, "The underpinning principle of our organization is that everyone should be treated fairly and with respect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Derived from Garrison Keillor's town where "all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking and all the children are above average", this became the underpinning principle for CEO and top executive remuneration for the last 20 years.

The Guardian - Opinion

The language is all about support ("In times of economic hardship it is more important than ever that social housing helps the most vulnerable in society," began the consultation paper in 2012), but the underpinning principle is that the state has no business being a provider of ordinary, decent housing to ordinary, decent people.

The Guardian - Opinion

This transdisciplinary collaboration parallels the underpinning principle of Lave and Wenger's Legitimate Peripheral Participation (Lave & Wenger, 1990) to South Africa's post-colonial legitimation of alternative sites and enskilment canons.

Teaching and Teacher Education

Turley's words represent an opinion shared by many legal practitioners which is an underpinning principle of democratic criminal justice: the notion that requiring a strict burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is just, even when the outcome may not seem fair.

Vice

The underpinning principle is "doing today's work today".

BMC Family Practice

Thus, there is most plausibly an underpinning principle or mechanism of a general nature, although the possibility of bias from unknown confounding variables cannot be ruled out.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The single agent germ theory was completely displaced by models of disease aetiology that directly assimilated, or took advantage of, the underpinning principles associated with the Agent, Host, and Environment triad.

Injury Epidemiology

More specifically, enriching the problem analysis through explorations to focus learners' attention more on the underpinning principles emerges as a possible objective of such studies.

International Journal of STEM Education

This article has described the processes that allowed regional participants to take ownership of the initiative, accepting the underpinning principles, and expressing it in their region.

BMC Medical Education

It is also relevant for GHE because HFA entails: putting health in the middle of development strategies for societies worldwide; linkages between its underpinning principles (i - iii) and the evolution of the term 'global health' and its objects (Table 1); regarding health professional education as a major determinant in realising the HFA objectives [ 38, 39].

Globalization and Health

Although a rarity in literary fiction, the computer metaphor is of course a staple of sci-fi, underpinning the principle of memory-erasure in stories such as Philip K Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" (filmed as Total Recall).

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "underpinning principle", ensure that the connection between the principle and the concept or system it supports is clear to the reader. A well-defined link enhances clarity and understanding.

Common error

Avoid embedding "underpinning principle" within overly complex sentences. Doing so can obscure the meaning and dilute the impact of the statement. Instead, use shorter, more direct constructions to highlight the principle's importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underpinning principle" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the foundational idea or concept upon which something is based, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Examples from Ludwig show it used to describe core tenets in various fields.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underpinning principle" denotes a foundational concept or idea upon which something is based. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and appropriate in formal writing. It is most commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating its relevance in explaining fundamental concepts and rationales. While several alternatives exist, such as "foundational principle" or "core belief", the specific choice depends on the nuances of the intended meaning. When using the phrase, clarity and directness are key to effectively convey the importance of the principle.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foundational principle

This alternative emphasizes the fundamental nature of the principle, suggesting it's a base upon which something is built.

basic tenet

This option highlights the core belief or doctrine that something is based on.

core belief

This emphasizes the belief aspect, indicating a central conviction that guides actions or thoughts.

fundamental concept

This alternative focuses on the conceptual nature, suggesting it is an idea that underlies a system or theory.

guiding principle

This alternative highlights the directive nature of the principle, indicating it provides direction or guidance.

key rationale

This phrase emphasizes the reasoning or justification behind something, indicating it's the main reason for its existence or action.

essential foundation

This option stresses the crucial and supportive nature, suggesting indispensable base.

primary basis

This focuses on the ground or starting point of something, indicating it's the main element on which something else rests.

central assumption

This emphasizes the presupposition nature, indicating a belief that is taken for granted as the basis for reasoning.

underlying philosophy

This alternative refers to a set of beliefs or principles that guide actions and thought, often used in a broader, more abstract sense.

FAQs

How can I use "underpinning principle" in a sentence?

Use "underpinning principle" to describe a fundamental idea or belief that supports a system, argument, or process. For example, "The "underpinning principle" of democracy is the right to vote".

What's a simpler way to say "underpinning principle"?

You can use alternatives like "foundational principle", "core belief", or "guiding principle" depending on the specific context.

Is "underpinning principle" the same as "underlying principle"?

While similar, "underpinning" suggests a more foundational and supportive role, whereas "underlying" implies a hidden or less obvious foundation. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the supportive or the less visible aspect of the principle.

What are some examples of an underpinning principle?

Examples include the "principle of justice" in law, the "principle of supply and demand" in economics, and the "principle of conservation" in environmental science.