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Can I write "Structure is key to the clarity of writing" without a determiner before "structure"?

Martin
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    I would write it in a different way, "Structure is the key to clarity of writing." – Ram Pillai Sep 07 '20 at 12:21
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    Use in instead of of and it will sound more idiomatic: "Structure is the key to clarity in writing." No article needed. – Robusto Sep 07 '20 at 12:27

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Structure without an article is fine since you are talking about something in general. For the same reason, you should also use clarity without an article, as both comments above suggest:

Structure is key to clarity in writing.

I suppose that you are using key as an adjective here, meaning

adj. Of crucial importance; significant: key decisions; the key element of the thesis.

Such usage exists as in the following example:

Maybe you could accuse the film of being scattershot or episodic, but its piecemeal structure is key to its virtues.

However, it may be confusing, so you could consider using a noun after it: "a key factor".

ludwig.guru

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M.G.S.
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