a primary responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a primary responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the main duty or obligation associated with a role or position. Example: "As a project manager, a primary responsibility is to ensure that the team meets deadlines and stays within budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

That gives us some responsibility, I would say a primary responsibility, for dealing with them.

The Guardian

3. The United States has a primary responsibility among nations to advance free trade.

Harvard Business Review

Ensuring that patients remain free of unintended retained foreign bodies is a primary responsibility of perioperative nurses and surgical technologists.

AORN Journal

It is often the case that such sources have a primary responsibility for generation of the motion of the fluid.

Mathematical and Computer Modelling

"The school had a primary responsibility to students and families to keep them safe from this sort of thing, the school failed.

The Guardian

A primary responsibility of a president in a time of crisis is to give Americans confidence in themselves and their ability to defeat the enemy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

He added in a tweet: "Primary responsibility for tragic events in Algeria rest with terrorists who murdered some and held others hostage".

BBC

The primary responsibility for a response to a lack of confidence must be national".

The New York Times

A bedside nurse was classified as a nurse whose primary responsibility on that shift was direct patient care.

Annals of Intensive Care

A patient navigator is an individual whose primary responsibility is to provide personalized guidance to patients as they interact with and move through health care systems.

BMC Nephrology

But a speaker's primary responsibility is to the nation, not the House.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a primary responsibility", ensure that the context clearly establishes who holds this responsibility. It provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a primary responsibility" when referring to a minor or secondary task. The term implies significant importance, so ensure the responsibility genuinely warrants this description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary responsibility" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a significant duty or obligation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to denote the main duty associated with a role or position.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary responsibility" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to denote the most important duty or obligation associated with a role, position, or entity. According to Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While alternatives like "a main responsibility" or "a key responsibility" exist, the core meaning remains consistent: emphasizing the importance of a specific duty. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines who holds the responsibility and that it aligns with the actual importance of the task at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a main responsibility

Replaces "primary" with "main", suggesting a key but not necessarily the most important duty.

a key responsibility

Substitutes "primary" with "key", indicating an important and essential duty.

a central responsibility

Uses "central" instead of "primary", highlighting the core or focal nature of the duty.

a principal responsibility

Replaces "primary" with "principal", suggesting a leading or foremost duty.

a core responsibility

Emphasizes that the responsibility is fundamental and essential.

a chief responsibility

Implies that the responsibility is the most important one.

a major duty

Highlights the significance of the duty using "major".

a leading responsibility

Suggests the responsibility involves guidance or direction.

a foremost responsibility

Highlights that the responsibility comes before all others.

a paramount duty

Indicates that the duty is of utmost importance and overrides others.

FAQs

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

Use "a primary responsibility" to describe the most important duty or obligation associated with a role or position. For example: "Ensuring patient safety is "a primary responsibility" of nurses."

What phrases can I use instead of "a primary responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "a main responsibility", "a key responsibility", or "a core responsibility" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the primary responsibility" instead of "a primary responsibility"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "The primary responsibility" implies it is the single most important responsibility. "A primary responsibility" suggests it is one of several important responsibilities.

What's the difference between "a primary responsibility" and "a secondary responsibility"?

"A primary responsibility" is the most important duty, while "a secondary responsibility" is a less important, supporting task. Prioritize primary responsibilities over secondary ones.