a lower priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lower priority" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you can use it when you want to emphasize that something is less important than something else: "Exercising regularly is important, but it should have a lower priority than getting enough sleep."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Killing bad guys was relegated to a lower priority.

The New Yorker

That office's needs were simply a lower priority, officials said.

The New York Times

When AIDS seems to threaten, consistency is a lower priority.

The New York Times

Simply put: academic investments are a lower priority.

The New York Times

"Even those who want the system put it at a lower priority".

The New York Times

Arresting Anderson was a lower priority than protecting her identity as her source, Cocking said.

The Guardian

"And sadly, expenditures on safety and security had been a lower priority.

The New York Times

Sutton made it clear that he would give a lower priority to protecting players' feelings.

The New York Times - Sports

Before they could act, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks made Mr. Bout a lower priority.

The New York Times

Dateability, in any case, may be a lower priority to the site's users than professional networking.

The New York Times

Preventing data theft from occurring seems to be a lower priority.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "less important" or "secondary concern" for variety in your writing and to avoid repetition, especially in longer texts.

Common error

Avoid stating that something is "a lower priority" without specifying what it is lower than. This can leave the reader confused about the relative importance of different items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lower priority" functions as a noun phrase or adjective phrase within a sentence. It typically modifies another noun or verb, indicating a reduced level of importance or urgency. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lower priority" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate that something is less important than something else. As Ludwig AI points out, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly define what the higher priority is to provide clarity. While it's versatile, consider using synonyms to enhance your writing and avoid repetition. Also, avoid comparisons without specifying the reference point. Given its frequent usage and grammatical soundness, "a lower priority" is a reliable choice for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a secondary concern

Replaces "priority" with "concern" and "lower" with "secondary", indicating reduced importance.

less important

Uses simpler language to convey that something has reduced significance.

of lesser importance

Emphasizes reduced importance through a more formal structure.

not a primary focus

Shifts from "priority" to "focus", indicating a different perspective on what is being emphasized.

a subordinate matter

Replaces "priority" with "matter" and uses "subordinate" to indicate a lower rank in importance.

given less weight

Uses the metaphor of "weight" to represent importance.

not as crucial

Highlights that something is not as critical or essential.

a deferred task

Indicates that a task is postponed or delayed because it's not immediately important.

relegated to the back burner

Idiomatic expression indicating something is temporarily set aside.

of minor consequence

Emphasizes that something has minimal impact or significance.

FAQs

How do I use "a lower priority" in a sentence?

You can use "a lower priority" to indicate that something is less important than something else. For example, "While both tasks are important, completing the report is "a lower priority" than addressing the system outage."

What are some alternatives to saying "a lower priority"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "less important", "a secondary concern", or "not a primary focus".

Is it correct to say "lowest priority" instead of "a lower priority"?

While both are grammatically correct, they convey different meanings. "A lower priority" suggests something is less important relative to something else, whereas "lowest priority" implies it is the least important among all options.

What's the difference between "a low priority" and "a lower priority"?

"A low priority" generally describes something that isn't very important. "A lower priority" implies a comparison, indicating it's less important than something else. Using "a low priority" when you mean something should be de-prioritized compared to something else is a common mistake.