a primary concern is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a primary concern is" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the main issue or priority in a particular context or situation. Example: "In our recent meeting, we concluded that a primary concern is the lack of resources for the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But a primary concern is always going to be profit.

The New York Times

"A primary concern is the safety and welfare of the young children and the safe return of the young family," police said in a statement.

Independent

A primary concern is the difficulty in adapting programs for a high school setting for populations at highest risk: adolescents.

Eating Behaviors

A primary concern is that the cultivation strategy selected (typically a large shallow open pond) requires vast amounts of water and land.

Applied Petrochemical Research

A primary concern is the energy consumed by wireless communication, and in particular the energy consumed in searching for other nodes to communicate with.

Computer Communications

The mainstream of Western ethics takes the individual, decision-making agent as the basic unit of concern, and a primary concern is to develop a universally applicable method of arbitrating among the often disparate interests of individual agents, establishing rationally-guided means to determining and practically realizing the meaning of the good life.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

For emergency officials a primary concern was the anticipated widespread flooding.

The Guardian

Later youngsters promoted such innovations as computers.Because America was a new country, argues Greg Ibach, head of agriculture in Nebraska's state government, a primary concern was feeding a growing population and moving food large distances.

The Economist

When 18th-century men wrote and debated the Bill of Rights, a primary concern was that the process of enumeration would limit the rights of future generations to only those enumerated.

The New York Times

A primary concern was to keep the cargo and fumes well away from the engine room to avoid fires.

Wikipedia

A primary concern was the fact that students enrolled in schools and colleges have been asked to attend International Yoga Day celebrations.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When introducing "a primary concern is", ensure that the context clearly establishes why this concern is the most important or pressing issue.

Common error

Avoid using "a primary concern is" when the concern is self-evident or already implied in the context. Instead, focus on explaining the nuances or implications of the concern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary concern is" functions as an introductory phrase to highlight the most important issue or worry in a given context. It sets the stage for further discussion or action related to that specific concern, as evidenced by the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

47%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary concern is" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce the most important issue or worry in a given context. Ludwig provides various examples across news, science, and business, demonstrating its versatility. While the phrase is correct and widely used, be mindful of overstating the obvious and consider alternatives like "a major concern is" or "the main concern is" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major concern is

Replaces "primary" with "major", indicating a significant but not necessarily the most important concern.

a key concern is

Substitutes "primary" with "key", highlighting the essential nature of the concern.

the main concern is

Replaces "primary" with "main", emphasizing the central importance of the concern.

the chief concern is

Uses "chief" instead of "primary", suggesting the most important or dominant concern.

an overriding concern is

Replaces "primary" with "overriding", indicating a concern that takes precedence over others.

a significant concern is

Substitutes "primary" with "significant", highlighting the importance of the concern.

a foremost concern is

Uses "foremost" instead of "primary", suggesting the most prominent or important concern.

the principal concern is

Replaces "primary" with "principal", emphasizing the fundamental or main concern.

a central worry is

Substitutes "concern" with "worry", suggesting a feeling of anxiety about something important.

the biggest fear is

Replaces "concern" with "fear", highlighting a strong feeling of apprehension about something.

FAQs

How can I use "a primary concern is" in a sentence?

Use "a primary concern is" to introduce the most important issue needing attention. For example, "A primary concern is the safety of our employees."

What are some alternatives to "a primary concern is"?

Alternatives include "a major concern is", "a key concern is", or "the main concern is", which can be used to express similar emphasis.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a primary concern are"?

No, the correct form is "a primary concern is". Since "concern" is singular, it requires the singular verb "is".

What is the difference between "a primary concern is" and "one of the primary concerns is"?

"A primary concern is" indicates the single most important issue. "One of the primary concerns is" suggests there are multiple important issues, with the sentence highlighting one of them.