a chief concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a chief concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the primary or most important issue or worry in a given context. Example: "The safety of our employees is a chief concern for our management team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

For the everyday driver, of course, a chief concern is still arriving in one piece.

The New York Times

Reimbursement is a chief concern of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

The New York Times - Health

Improving the share price seems to be a chief concern for Mr. Owens.

The New York Times

For Marvel, a chief concern is to avoid cannibalizing demand for print copies.

The New York Times - Arts

The prospect of immediate hunger combining with long-term disruptions to food supplies was a chief concern.

The New York Times

The issue of a split at the top has been a chief concern for Calpers for some time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Yes, the victory over Philadelphia was impressive, but more important, what do critical performances from players like the backup receiver Victor Cruz and the backup linebacker Jacquian Williams portend for a team whose chief concern this season has been its much-tested depth?

The New York Times - Sports

A survey of over 2000 patients found that 55% listed a diagnostic error as their chief concern when seeing a physician in an outpatient setting.

BMJ Quality and Safety

Whether the new pope will turn out to be a sartorial minimalist is perhaps not the chief concern of a church in considerable turmoil.

The New York Times

The Senate passed the bill, which comes at a time when polls show that voters rank education as their chief concern, by a vote of 61 to 37, securing a modicum of bipartisan support for a measure that Republicans have pushed unsuccessfully for three years.

The New York Times

The candidates must also balance pleasing the union while appealing to business leaders, many of whom consider Mr. Mulgrew a rogue figure whose chief concern is protecting the interests of teachers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a chief concern", ensure that the context clearly establishes whose concern it is and why it is significant. For example, "For parents, a chief concern is their children's safety."

Common error

Avoid using "a chief concern" without specifying who holds the concern. Ambiguity can arise if the subject is not clearly defined. Instead of saying, "A chief concern is the budget," specify, "A chief concern for the finance committee is the budget."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a chief concern" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It identifies the most significant worry or issue, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a chief concern" is a widely used phrase for emphasizing the most important worry or issue in a particular situation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently found in news, scientific, and formal contexts. While various alternatives exist, such as "primary worry" or "key consideration", it is important to ensure clarity by specifying whose concern it is to avoid ambiguity. Mastering this phrase enhances precision and impact in both writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary worry

Replaces "chief concern" with "primary worry", emphasizing the element of worry.

a major preoccupation

Substitutes "chief concern" with "major preoccupation", highlighting the absorption of thought.

a key consideration

Replaces "concern" with "consideration", shifting the focus to something that needs careful thought.

the foremost priority

Replaces "concern" with "priority", emphasizing the importance of dealing with it.

the main issue

Offers a more direct and simplified alternative to "chief concern".

the biggest problem

Focuses on the problematic aspect of the concern.

the central anxiety

Highlights the anxious nature of the concern.

a pressing matter

Replaces "concern" with "matter", stressing the urgency of the issue.

a dominant thought

Emphasizes the pervasiveness of the concern in one's thoughts.

topmost of the mind

Uses a more informal expression to indicate something that is constantly being thought about.

FAQs

How can I use "a chief concern" in a sentence?

Use "a chief concern" to highlight the most important worry or issue in a particular situation. For example, "A chief concern of the residents is the increasing crime rate."

What are some alternatives to "a chief concern"?

You can use alternatives like "a primary worry", "a major preoccupation", or "a key consideration" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "chief concern" or "main concern"?

"Chief concern" and "main concern" are very similar. "Chief concern" may suggest a slightly higher degree of importance or officialdom, but both are generally interchangeable. For example, "The project's success is "the main concern"" is equally valid.

What is the difference between "a chief concern" and "an important issue"?

"A chief concern" specifically implies worry or anxiety about something, while "an important issue" simply denotes something of significance. While related, "a chief concern" carries a stronger emotional connotation. In a formal setting you can use "important issue" as a replacement.