a principal focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a principal focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the main area of interest or concentration in a particular context, such as research, projects, or discussions. Example: "The study's findings indicate that a principal focus should be placed on improving educational outcomes for underprivileged students."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Leadership targets have been a principal focus.

The New York Times

"A principal focus of our transaction review process was that the firm in fact might lose its $7 million equity investment," said Bill Halldin, a Merrill spokesman.

The New York Times

Despite her years in Narcotics Anonymous, she does not mention drug treatment as a principal focus, and in fact advocates a return to Nancy Reagan's anti-drug program.

The New York Times

Tunnels like those are now a principal focus of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, with bombing raids clearly audible on the other side of the eight-mile border with Egypt.

The New York Times

Mr. Clinton's economic plan was a principal focus for Republicans in 1994, but his controversial health plan never reached the House floor and forced Democrats to take a stand.

The New York Times

It's true, though, that a main element of the dynamic conditions in which he does business is the relationship between art and commerce, which is also a principal focus of his academic interests.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

The principles of the DMS are similar to those of a micro-lens array system involving a principal focusing lens and a two-dimensional (2D) array of micro-lenses located ahead of the principal lens.

Free Electron Lasers 2003 Proceedings of the 25th International Free Electron Laser Conference and the 10th FEL Users Workshop, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, 8–12 September 2003

The exceptions to their approach are sub-sections 5.1, 5.4, and 5.8; in these sub-sections instead of selecting a single "principal focus," we identified the categories to which the article "made reference".

Visualization in Engineering

On August 1, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing, the principal focus being veterans' preference.

Huffington Post

Corresponding things will be true of an originalist whose principal focus is original understanding: she need not dismiss entirely the relevance of original intentions, at least in some cases.

SEP

Given a combination of the resources we had available and our positioning as an academic institution, the principal focus of the work was to use research and informed debate to challenge representations of sexuality and rights in the public domain.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a principal focus" to clearly communicate the most important area of attention in your writing. This helps readers quickly grasp the key element you are emphasizing.

Common error

Avoid using "a principal focus" without clearly establishing what else is being considered. Providing context ensures the reader understands why this particular focus is highlighted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a principal focus" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the most important area of concentration or attention. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a principal focus" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate the main area of attention or emphasis, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in science and news media contexts, it serves to highlight the most important element under consideration. While alternatives like "a key focus" or "a primary focus" offer similar meanings, "a principal focus" provides a clear and direct way to guide readers to the central subject matter. When using this phrase, ensure sufficient context is provided to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a crucial focus

Replaces "principal" with "crucial", emphasizing the essential nature of the focus.

a key focus

Substitutes "principal" with "key", highlighting the importance and centrality of the focus.

a primary focus

Uses "primary" instead of "principal", indicating the focus is of utmost importance or comes first.

a central focus

Replaces "principal" with "central", stressing that the focus is at the core or center of attention.

a predominant focus

Uses "predominant" instead of "principal", suggesting the focus is the most noticeable or prevalent.

a major focus

Substitutes "principal" with "major", indicating the focus is significant or substantial.

a main focus

Uses "main" instead of "principal", providing a simpler and more direct synonym.

a prime focus

Replaces "principal" with "prime", conveying that the focus is of the highest quality or importance.

a fundamental focus

Substitutes "principal" with "fundamental", emphasizing the foundational nature of the focus.

a chief focus

Uses "chief" instead of "principal", conveying that the focus is the most important one.

FAQs

How can I use "a principal focus" in a sentence?

You can use "a principal focus" to highlight the main area of attention, like this: "A principal focus of this research is understanding climate change impacts."

What are some alternatives to "a principal focus"?

Alternatives include "a key focus", "a primary focus", or "a central focus", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "principal focus" or "main focus"?

"Principal focus" is slightly more formal and emphasizes importance, while "main focus" is more common and straightforward. Both are correct, but choose based on the tone you want to set.

What's the difference between "a principal focus" and "an important aspect"?

"A principal focus" indicates the main area of attention or concentration, while "an important aspect" suggests one of several significant elements. The former implies a central point, the latter, a contributing factor.