For a first-order theory in a first-order language , a complete -type is a maximal -consistent set of formulas whose free variables lie among . Equivalently, it chooses exactly one of and for every such formula while remaining consistent with .
An isolated type is isolated by a formula when is consistent and
for every . The type is an omitted type in an -structure when no tuple satisfies every formula in .
The omitting types theorem states that if is a consistent theory in a countable language and is a countable family of nonisolated finite-arity types, then has a countable model omitting every .
A model is prime if it has an elementary embedding into every model of . A model is atomic if every finite tuple realizes an isolated complete type over the empty set.
If is prime, the downward Löwenheim-Skolem theorem gives a countable model of , and an elementary embedding makes countable. If a tuple of realized a nonisolated type, the omitting types theorem would give a model of omitting that type. The prime embedding into it would preserve the tuple's full type and realize the omitted type, a contradiction. Thus a prime model is countable and atomic.
Conversely enumerate a countable atomic model as , and take any . Build finite partial elementary maps into . Suppose the current tuple maps to . Choose a formula isolating the type of . The assertion holds in , so its counterpart holds at in by partial elementarity. Choose a witness . Since isolates the entire extended tuple type, the extended map is elementary on its finite domain; its equality formulas ensure distinct Elements remain distinct. The union is a total elementary embedding . The empty initial tuple works because is complete. Hence