A principal formula of a type is a logical formula first-order consistent with the base first-order theory that, modulo that first-order theory, implies every logical formula of the partial type. For a complete type it isolates a single point of the type space. A realized finite-tuple partial type in a finite first-order structure has such a logical formula by conjoining one distinguishing logical formula for each competing tuple with a different partial type.
Fix a tuple in a finite first-order structure. For every tuple of a different complete type, choose a logical formula true at the first tuple and false at the competitor. The finite conjunction selects only tuples of the desired partial type inside the first-order structure. Every implication from that conjunction to a member of the partial type is true in the first-order structure and hence belongs to its complete theory. Thus the conjunction isolates the partial type, even in an infinite first-order language.
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