a foremost concern

USAGE SUMMARY

'a foremost concern' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to an important matter, usually one that needs immediate attention. For example, "Health and safety is a foremost concern for the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

contractors have made the interest of their workers a foremost concern".

The New York Times

But, for many, a foremost concern is what they will eat and whether they will experience the dreaded double-digit weight gain known as the "freshman 15".

The New York Times

While our boys' safety has always been a foremost concern, causing us to ease up on our ambitions, there's no doubt that we've pushed the boundaries.

Huffington Post

Safety must be a foremost concern.

Clinical Science

A foremost concern in designing a challenge for IMPROVER is to obtain a gold standard dataset against which a set of predictions can be scored in order to verify a building block.

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Reference to the various planes of Chinese painting near, middle, and far distance were largely abandoned, as exposition of the surface of a material became the foremost concern.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When Rupert Murdoch flew to London last weekend to quarterback his company's defense, a reporter asked: What's your foremost concern?

The New Yorker

He is known as an "inflation hawk," meaning that his foremost concern tends to be preventing inflation, the Fed's traditional enemy.

The New York Times

Arguably his foremost concern was to effect a restoration of the kind of socio-political order that had prevailed, at least in his mind, at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty (1027-256 B. C. E).

SEP

As should be evident from this paper, data quality and curation are of foremost concern in the delivery of a web-based resource to serve environmental scientists and other potential users of the Dashboard.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Supporters of incorporation say their foremost concern is the lack of an emergency evacuation plan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a foremost concern" when you want to emphasize the high level of importance or urgency attached to a particular issue. For instance, "Employee safety is a foremost concern during the construction phase."

Common error

While grammatically sound, "a foremost concern" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "main worry" or "biggest issue" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a foremost concern" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. It typically identifies the most important issue or worry being considered, and Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a foremost concern" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the high importance or priority of a particular issue. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and suitable for written English. While the phrase isn't exceedingly common, its neutral register makes it appropriate across various contexts, from news reports and scientific papers to more formal business communications. When aiming for simplicity or informality, consider alternatives like "main worry" or "top priority".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A primary worry

Replaces "concern" with a more direct synonym and "foremost" with "primary", indicating top priority.

A top priority

Shifts from a feeling of anxiety to a declaration of importance.

The main issue

Focuses on the problem or subject needing resolution.

A key consideration

Highlights the importance of something when making a decision.

The biggest problem

Highlights the significant and challenging nature of the concern.

A central focus

Emphasizes the concentration of attention on a particular area.

The principal anxiety

Replaces "concern" with "anxiety", focusing on unease and worry.

A major preoccupation

Indicates that someone is constantly thinking about the concern.

The overriding objective

Presents the concern as the most important goal to achieve.

The paramount question

Emphasizes the importance and urgency of a query or matter requiring resolution.

FAQs

What does "a foremost concern" mean?

The phrase "a foremost concern" signifies something of utmost importance or priority. It indicates that the issue or subject is at the forefront of one's thoughts or actions and requires immediate attention.

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

You can use "a foremost concern" to emphasize the significance of something. For example, "The patient's health is "a primary worry"", or "Data security is "a top priority" for our company".

What are some alternatives to "a foremost concern"?

Alternatives include "a primary worry", "a top priority", "the main issue", or "a key consideration". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "a foremost concern" or "the foremost concern"?

Both "a foremost concern" and "the foremost concern" are grammatically correct. "A foremost concern" implies that it is one of several important issues, while "the foremost concern" suggests it is the single most important issue.