a serious priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious priority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the importance of a particular task or issue that requires immediate attention. Example: "Addressing climate change is a serious priority for our government this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Americans should question whether the Justice Department is making America's far-right fanatics a serious priority.

The New York Times

Congress and the Obama administration must finally make food safety a serious priority.

The New York Times

"This should make it clear to everyone that protection of wetlands is a serious priority to the department".

The New York Times

In those long-ago days, trumpeting a liberal city's expansion of its historic ideals of liberalism and tolerance seemed a serious priority.

The New York Times - Magazine

If it does, ensuring that the resources of public bodies cannot be brought to bear against vocal opposition should be a serious priority.

The Guardian

Touch technology is a serious priority.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The problem is that our elected leaders haven't had a serious priorities discussion for years.

Huffington Post

"When Obama opted out of public campaign financing, he said the system is broken and promised to work to fix it, and that needs to be a very serious priority for him," said Cindi Canary of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Huffington Post

According to the presentation, it became a "serious intelligence priority" for the British secret intelligence services (SIS) to spy on UN international climate negotiations in 2007.

The Guardian

"In Illinois, mental health services have never been a serious political priority, as evidenced by the recent city and county cuts," said Dr. Ronald Davidson, director of the mental health program at the University of Illinois at Chicago's department of psychiatry.

The New York Times

Don't get me wrong; it's important that the arts are given serious priority by the government through both funding and education.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a serious priority" when the issue at hand requires immediate attention, allocation of resources, and strategic planning to ensure it's effectively managed and resolved.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "a serious priority" without outlining specific steps or resources dedicated to addressing it. This can lead to skepticism and a perception of insincerity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious priority" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something as being of great importance and requiring immediate attention. Ludwig examples show it's used across various contexts to highlight the criticality of an issue.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a serious priority" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the high importance of something. Ludwig AI affirms its validity and offers examples from diverse sources like news, science, and business. It's best used when emphasizing the need for immediate attention and action, while also clearly defining the steps that will be taken to address the issue. Alternatives like "a top priority" or "an urgent matter" can provide slight shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a top priority

Indicates that something is at the highest level of importance.

an urgent matter

Conveys a sense of immediate and critical importance.

a pressing issue

Emphasizes the urgency and the need for immediate action, rather than general importance.

a critical need

Stresses the necessity and indispensability of addressing the issue.

a major concern

Focuses on the aspect of worry and significance rather than direct action.

a primary focus

Highlights the area or subject that receives the most attention and effort.

a key objective

Highlights the goal-oriented aspect, emphasizing what needs to be achieved.

a vital undertaking

Indicates that the action is essential and necessary for success or survival.

a significant task

Emphasizes the importance and impact of the task, rather than the urgency.

an essential element

Highlights the necessity and fundamental nature of something, focusing on its role as a building block.

FAQs

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

You can use "a serious priority" to emphasize the importance of something, such as "Addressing climate change is "a serious priority" for our government this year".

What is a good alternative to "a serious priority"?

Alternatives include "a top priority", "an urgent matter", or "a pressing issue", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a serious priority" or "a high priority"?

"A serious priority" emphasizes the gravity of the matter, while "a high priority" simply indicates importance. The best choice depends on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

What makes something "a serious priority"?

Something becomes "a serious priority" when it has significant consequences if not addressed promptly and effectively, requiring immediate attention and resources.