a high priority

USAGE SUMMARY

"a high priority" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something is important or needs to be done right away. For example, "Finishing this project is a high priority for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Subtlety was not a high priority in those arts.

The New Yorker

It doesn't seem to be a high priority".

The New Yorker

Fence mending has become a high priority at the Foreign Ministry.

The New Yorker

"Property crimes generally are not a high priority for law enforcement, nor should they be.

The New Yorker

An expansion of broadband investment and use is essential and should be a high priority for national policy.

The New Yorker

But watching the Democratic Convention, climate change didn't seem to be a high priority.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

That seemed a higher priority to him than bringing jobs, industries to the state".

The New Yorker

In a report on pre-9/11 failures, the Department of Justice criticized the F.B.I.'s San Diego field office for not making counterterrorism a higher priority.

The New Yorker

The story noted that "The Purple Heart confers practical benefits, gaining recipients a higher priority in obtaining medical service from Veterans Affairs medical facilities," but that for individual soldiers it's mostly about the acknowledgement of their courage that counts.

The New Yorker

Certainly they appeared to place a higher priority on the question of what the Administration knew and when it knew it — the subject that has the potential of being politically useful — than they did on the question of how something like this could be prevented in the future.

The New Yorker

"New York City has been a high-priority target since at least the first World Trade Center bombing," she wrote.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, make sure it's clear what the priority is and why it's important to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "a high priority" is effective, overusing it can dilute its impact. Try to use other synonyms like "a top priority" or "a key priority" to add variety to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a high priority" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a predicate nominative or an object in a sentence. It identifies something that is considered very important and requiring immediate attention. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is correct and usable in writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academic Institutions

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a high priority" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to denote something of great importance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers examples from diverse sources like The New Yorker, primarily in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While effective, it's advisable to use synonyms like "a top priority" or "a key priority" to avoid overuse and maintain clarity. The phrase serves to emphasize significance and direct attention to critical tasks or issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a top priority

Indicates something is at the very top of the list of important items, intensifying the importance.

a key priority

Highlights that something is essential or fundamental.

a major priority

Emphasizes the scale or significance of the priority.

a crucial priority

Stresses the critical and decisive nature of the priority.

an urgent priority

Highlights the time-sensitive nature of the priority.

a significant priority

Emphasizes the importance and impact of the priority.

a foremost priority

Indicates that something is the most important, above all others.

a prime concern

Shifts the focus to something that is a main source of worry or attention.

a central focus

Highlights that something is the main point of attention or effort.

a matter of great importance

Generalizes the importance without specifying a priority.

FAQs

How can I use "a high priority" in a sentence?

You can use "a high priority" to indicate that something is very important and needs immediate attention. For example, "Customer satisfaction is "a high priority" for our company."

What are some alternatives to "a high priority"?

Alternatives include "a top priority", "a key priority", or "a major priority", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "high priority" or "a high priority"?

Both are acceptable, but "a high priority" is more common when referring to something specific. "High priority" without the article is generally used as an adjective: "high-priority task".

What's the difference between "a high priority" and "the highest priority"?

"A high priority" indicates that something is important, but not necessarily the most important thing. "The highest priority" means it is the most important thing above everything else.