Make a priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Make a priority" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression is "Make it a priority" or "Prioritize." Example: "We need to make it a priority to finish this project by the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Make a priority list.

WikiHow

For instance, promises to make a priority of public education.

The New York Times

(That is something the bank should make a priority).

The New York Times

In 2011, he instructed bishops to make a priority of rooting out sexual abuse by clerics.

The New Yorker

She said she would make a priority of improving oversight of food safety.

The New York Times

States and cities typically make a priority of repaying their bond holders, even before paying for essential services.

The New York Times

I would encourage the teams to make a priority the accessibility that the fans have to the drivers.

The Guardian - Sport

What Ann has done is make a priority an idea that has been percolating for a decade".

The New York Times

It is an affordable amount for a government that can make a priority of cutting inheritance tax".

The Guardian - Business

The government has also pledged to make a priority of collecting what are estimated to be billions of dollars in unpaid taxes.

The New York Times

Choosing to make a priority of hosting the World Cup rather than creating a pool of talent that could win it was another act of profound myopia.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the verb "prioritize" as a more concise and grammatically sound alternative to "make a priority". For example: "Prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact."

Common error

Don't omit the pronoun "it" when using this phrase. Saying "make a priority" is grammatically incorrect. Always say "make it a priority" to ensure correct usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Make a priority" functions as a verb phrase aimed at expressing the act of assigning importance. However, Ludwig AI points out that this construction is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal contexts. Examples show it's often used informally, despite the grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "Make a priority" is commonly used, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "make it a priority". Despite its widespread use, especially in News & Media, opting for grammatically sound alternatives like "prioritize" or "give precedence to" is recommended, particularly in formal writing. The phrase aims to emphasize the importance of something but its incorrect usage detracts from its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Make it a priority

Adds 'it' to make it grammaticaly correct.

Prioritize

A single-word verb that directly expresses the action of assigning priority.

Give precedence to

Emphasizes the act of allowing something to take priority over other things.

Afford high priority to

Formal alternative to give priority to.

Treat as most important

Focuses on the perception and handling of something as highly significant.

Designate as a priority

Highlights the formal act of assigning a priority status.

Set as a top concern

Indicates the ranking of a concern at the highest level.

Focus on

Emphasizes concentrating attention and effort on something.

Rank highly

Concise way to indicate that something is given high importance.

Accentuate the importance of

Highlights the importance of a particular aspect or task.

FAQs

How to use "make it a priority" correctly in a sentence?

Use "make it a priority" followed by an infinitive verb phrase to specify what action should be prioritized. For example, "We should "make it a priority to invest" in employee training".

Is "make a priority" grammatically correct?

No, "make a priority" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "make it a priority", which includes the pronoun "it".

What can I say instead of "make a priority"?

You can use alternatives like "prioritize", "give precedence to", or "treat as most important".

What's the difference between "make a priority" and "prioritize"?

"Make a priority" is often used but grammatically incorrect. "Prioritize" is a single-word verb that means to designate something as important and should be used instead.