a paramount principle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a paramount principle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the importance of a fundamental rule or belief in a particular context. Example: "In our organization, integrity is a paramount principle that guides all our decisions and actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Because research poses risks for human subjects, a paramount principle of biomedical research ethics is the right to make autonomous decisions regarding participation through the informed consent process.

Harvard University

The commissioner's responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end.

Los Angeles Times

But Goodell said in a statement that the league will appeal the ruling "to protect the integrity of the game". "The commissioner's responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end," he added.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As an international treaty, the Iran Deal is governed by the paramount principle of international law pacta sunt servanda the notion that that treaties must be kept.

Yale University

"Her teaching is highly valued and she is welcome to resume teaching anytime at Yale, where freedom of expression and academic inquiry are the paramount principle and practice".

The New York Times

"To promote shared parenting through legislation undermines the paramount principle of the welfare of the child … It would be wrong, by a change in the law, to imply that parents have rights over children rather than responsibilities for children.

The Guardian

One of these paramount principles is that our capitalist economy requires a new blindfold for Lady Justice.

HuffPost

"The board's decision today demonstrates once again that one of Yahoo!'s paramount principles of corporate governance is 'Shareholders not welcome,"' the hedge fund said in a statement on Sunday.

The New York Times

These are the paramount principles of organic food production, so it had concerned Hirshberg and other producers that the guidelines of the country's organic certification program have been loosely enforced.

Forbes

But why have you seemingly raised this to an issue of paramount moral principle when it is clearly a tactical or procedural issue?

Forbes

Secrecy is a paramount concern.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a paramount principle", ensure the context clearly establishes why the principle is of utmost importance. Provide specific examples or explanations to underscore its significance.

Common error

Avoid using "a paramount principle" for ideas that are merely important but not truly fundamental or critical. Overusing the phrase dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a paramount principle" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an appositive to identify a core belief or rule. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a paramount principle" is a grammatically sound phrase used to underscore the critical importance of a guiding belief or rule. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's essential to use it judiciously, reserving it for ideas of utmost significance. Alternatives like "a key tenet" or "a fundamental concept" may be more appropriate in less formal contexts or when the emphasis doesn't require the strong assertion of "paramount". While infrequent in overall usage, when used, its role in formal communications is to emphasize the criticality of the idea to any decision that is based upon it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key tenet

Replaces "paramount principle" with "key tenet", emphasizing a core belief or doctrine.

a fundamental concept

Substitutes "paramount principle" with "fundamental concept", focusing on the basic idea or notion.

a guiding principle

Replaces "paramount" with "guiding", shifting the emphasis to direction and influence.

a core value

Substitutes "principle" with "value", focusing on deeply held beliefs.

a central tenet

Similar to "key tenet" but emphasizes the centrality of the belief.

an essential principle

Replaces "paramount" with "essential", indicating necessity.

a primary directive

Shifts from a principle to a more action-oriented instruction.

a foremost principle

Replaces "paramount" with "foremost", emphasizing precedence.

a supreme principle

Substitutes "paramount" with "supreme", indicating the highest level of importance.

a leading idea

Focuses on the idea being dominant or influential.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a paramount principle" in a sentence?

Use "a paramount principle" to introduce a core belief or rule that guides decisions or actions. For example, "In our organization, ethical conduct is "a paramount principle"."

What are some alternatives to "a paramount principle"?

You can use alternatives like "a key tenet", "a fundamental concept", or "a guiding principle" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a paramount principle" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a paramount principle" leans towards formal writing. In informal contexts, consider using simpler phrases like "a main idea" or "a key thing".

What distinguishes "a paramount principle" from "an important principle"?

"A paramount principle" suggests a higher degree of importance than "an important principle". "Paramount" implies the principle is of utmost significance and takes precedence over other considerations.