a great priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a great priority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the importance or urgency of a particular task or issue. Example: "Ensuring the safety of our employees is a great priority for our management team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Roommates recall Mr. Bush studying the class register and memorizing names of classmates, and he clearly made friendships a great priority.

The New York Times

It becomes a great priority for the educational and governmental organization to focus more developing and regulating a land use on the banks of the river and to adopt a suitable riparian landscape system on its edges.

Columbia University

"I feel that what I have from the White House is a commitment to bring more enthusiasm, to make it a great priority to get immigration reform done this year," said Mr. Gutierrez, who voted for the House bill in November but was noncommittal in recent days.

The New York Times - Health

It's fair to say that standout singles have not been a great priority with Massive Attack, ever since Andy Mushroomm" Vowles left in 1999, and Del Naja supplanted the "hop" of trip-hop with rockist electronics, but "Splitting the Atom" nags in the best possible way.

The Guardian - Music

Like UNICEF the 2009 Caribbean Games places a great priority on the rights and issues of children with the promotion of healthy lifestyles, to sportsmanship, to team spirit and fair play.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Diversity becomes a greater priority.

The New York Times - Arts

Assigning a greater priority to nuclear weapons provided the opportunity to scale down expensive conventional forces.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"This is because punishment is given a greater priority than health and human rights.

The Guardian

A greater priority for now is demonstrating that the technology works and getting the word out.

The Guardian

Mr. Karpen, a composer, said jazz is now a greater priority for the program.

The New York Times - Arts

In songs like that, the improbable guest list came across as a greater priority than the songwriting.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a great priority", ensure the context clearly establishes why the subject is of such importance. Provide concrete details to underscore its significance.

Common error

Avoid using "a great priority" casually. Reserve it for situations where the level of importance is truly exceptional, otherwise, consider "a high priority" or "a key priority".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great priority" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies something as being highly important, as supported by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great priority" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the significant importance of something. Ludwig identifies the phrase as being suitable for professional and neutral contexts such as news, academic, and business communications. While not frequently used, it effectively conveys that a particular issue or task requires considerable attention. Alternatives such as "a high priority" or "a top priority" may be used depending on the specific nuance required. When deploying this phrase, writers should ensure the context aligns with its gravity and not overuse it to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a high priority

Emphasizes importance without necessarily implying a comparative aspect.

a top priority

Indicates the absolute highest level of importance.

a key priority

Highlights the essential nature of the priority.

a major priority

Suggests a significant level of importance, often in relation to scope or impact.

an important focus

Shifts the emphasis slightly to the act of focusing on something important.

a primary concern

Highlights the element of care or worry associated with the priority.

a central focus

Highlights the centrality of the priority.

a pressing concern

Implies urgency and a need for immediate attention.

a crucial element

Highlights the critical nature of a component or factor.

an urgent matter

Emphasizes the need for swift action and immediate attention.

FAQs

What does "a great priority" mean?

The phrase "a great priority" signifies something that is considered extremely important and requires significant attention or resources. It indicates that something is of utmost importance compared to other things.

When should I use "a great priority" in my writing?

Use "a great priority" when you want to emphasize that something is exceptionally important and deserves immediate or substantial attention. Ensure that the context supports the weight of this phrase.

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

You can use alternatives like "a high priority", "a top priority", or "a key priority" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "a great priority" or "a greater priority"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct but have slightly different meanings. "A great priority" indicates high importance, while "a greater priority" suggests comparing the importance of one thing to another. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing inherent importance or relative importance.