a primary priority

USAGE SUMMARY

"a primary priority" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to explain the highest priority out of many. For example, "Improving customer service is a primary priority for our company."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Bone loss from trauma, neoplasia, reconstructive surgery and congenital defects remains a major health problem, making the development of effective bone regeneration therapies a primary priority.

Injury

Many districts outline on their websites that a primary priority when considering a weather-based closure is the safety of students and faculty, but the ramifications of an unplanned day off extend past chilly toes and spilled cocoa.

Huffington Post

73– 77 Studies that investigate strategies to improve implementation of low tidal volume ventilation are a primary priority for ARDS research.

Clinical Epidemiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Nevertheless Berlin remains a liberal in maintaining that preserving a certain minimum of individual liberty is a primary political priority.

SEP

This single-item approach promotes efficient and effective measurement of multiple constructs when sensitivity to change is not a primary methodological priority.

BMC Palliative Care

For Sharon, however, it was the good of the state as he perceived it that was his primary priority: When I receive an order I treat it according to three values: the first, and most important, is the good of the state.…The second value is my obligation to my subordinates, and the third value is my obligation to my superiors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Our primary priority will always be to O2 customers, and protecting their data," he added.

TechCrunch

The primary priority for the selection of supply chain partners is quality performance.

International Journal of Production Economics

We envision discovering predicative mechanistic CVD microbiome biomarkers and exploiting the probiotics and prebiotics therapeutics continue to be of primary priority.

Protein & Cell

This is and will always be its primary priority.

Huffington Post

"He handled the financial crisis by treating it as if the primary priority was maintaining the financial structure intact," said Dean Baker, co-director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a primary priority" when you want to emphasize that something is at the very top of a list of important things that need to be addressed. Ensure you actually have a list or multiple priorities to justify the distinction.

Common error

Avoid using "a primary priority" when it's already clear the subject is the only or most important concern. In those situations, simply calling it "the priority" is more concise and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary priority" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It indicates something that is of utmost importance, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary priority" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize that something is the most important concern. While Ludwig indicates it's relatively rare, with most examples coming from scientific and news media contexts, it serves to highlight items requiring immediate attention. When using "a primary priority", ensure that the context warrants emphasizing its supreme importance and that more concise alternatives, such as "a top priority" or "a key priority", aren't more appropriate. This ensures clarity and avoids redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a top priority

This alternative suggests something is among the most important but doesn't necessarily denote the single most important.

a main priority

This option is more general, indicating high importance without the intensity of "primary".

a key priority

This phrase emphasizes the essential nature of the priority, suggesting it unlocks other successes.

a foremost priority

This alternative carries a slightly more formal tone, indicating precedence in time or order.

a leading priority

This option implies the priority guides or directs other efforts, giving it a leadership role.

a crucial priority

This emphasizes the critical nature of the priority; its absence would lead to negative consequences.

the number one priority

This alternative directly states its position as the most important.

an essential priority

This alternative emphasizes the fundamental necessity of the item.

a fundamental priority

This emphasizes the foundational aspect of the item's importance.

a basic priority

Implies the item is a foundational need and therefore important.

FAQs

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

You can use "a primary priority" to highlight the most important thing to address among a list of priorities. For example, "In disaster relief, saving lives is "a primary priority"".

What is another way to say "a primary priority"?

Alternatives to "a primary priority" include "a top priority", "a key priority", or "the number one priority". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a primary priority"?

While some may consider "a primary priority" slightly redundant, it can be used effectively for emphasis. However, ensure the context justifies the added weight; otherwise, "a top priority" might be more appropriate.

When should I use "a primary priority" over "a priority"?

Use "a primary priority" when you need to distinguish it as the single most important item from a set of important items. If there's no need to rank or differentiate, simply use "a priority".