an important priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an important priority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the significance of a particular task or goal that needs to be addressed or achieved. Example: "In our strategic planning meeting, we identified improving customer satisfaction as an important priority for the upcoming quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It's an important priority," he says.

The Guardian - Sport

"Protecting our customers' privacy is an important priority at Verizon".

The New Yorker

"This is an important priority for the American people.

The New York Times

With the evil empire gone, they "discovered" terrorism as an important priority.

The New York Times

–Do you think that weapon development is an important priority today?

The New York Times

But many bat species are still endangered, so preserving their habitats is still an important priority.

The Guardian

"Improving discipline is an important priority for the government," says Gibb's reply.

The Guardian

Integrating hardware and software, in the mold of Apple, was an important priority.

The New York Times

Safeguarding vulnerable girls and women with gang links continues to be an important priority of the refreshed strategy.

The Guardian

"I'm afraid that with all the world's problems, setting turkeys free doesn't seem an important priority to me".

The New Yorker

"Promoting the game's top players is an important priority for M.L.B. moving forward," Matt Bourne, a league spokesperson, told me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an important priority" to clearly define strategic goals in reports and presentations. This helps to focus efforts and resources effectively.

Common error

Avoid overusing "an important priority" for every task. Reserve it for genuinely critical items to maintain its impact and prevent diluting its meaning. Otherwise, consider using less emphatic language or you will risk sounding repetitive or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an important priority" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It highlights the significance of a particular task, goal, or issue, indicating that it requires special attention and resources. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an important priority" is a commonly used phrase that effectively highlights the significance of a task or goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While versatile, it is important to use it judiciously to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives such as "a key objective" or "a crucial matter" can be used for variety while maintaining clarity. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, writers can leverage this phrase to communicate effectively and emphasize critical actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a crucial matter

This alternative replaces 'priority' with 'matter' and 'important' with 'crucial', emphasizing the significance but shifting the focus slightly from scheduling to inherent importance.

a primary focus

Here, 'priority' is swapped with 'focus', highlighting the main point of concentration, and 'important' is substituted by 'primary', showcasing its fundamental nature.

a foremost consideration

This alternative replaces 'priority' with 'consideration' putting emphasis on the act of thinking it over, and 'important' with 'foremost' to indicate it's at the front.

a key objective

This option uses 'objective' instead of 'priority', focusing on goals and aims, while 'key' replaces 'important' to denote its significance.

a central aim

This alternative replaces 'priority' with 'aim' which signifies a goal or purpose, while 'important' is replaced by 'central', which denotes its vital role.

a top-level issue

This option emphasizes the high-ranking nature of the 'issue', contrasting with 'priority' which suggests sequence and action, and uses 'top-level' to denote 'important'.

a pressing responsibility

This alternative uses 'responsibility' instead of 'priority', emphasizing the obligation or duty, and replaces 'important' with 'pressing' to suggest urgency.

a major concern

This phrase replaces 'priority' with 'concern', highlighting worry and urgency, and replaces 'important' with 'major', signifying its magnitude.

a critical endeavor

This phrase substitutes 'priority' with 'endeavor' which means a strenuous effort or attempt, and 'important' with 'critical' underlining the potential danger if not done.

a significant task

Here, 'priority' is substituted with 'task', centering on work to be done, and 'important' with 'significant' highlighting notable worth.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "an important priority" in a sentence?

To effectively use "an important priority", place it in a context where you're highlighting the significance of a particular task or goal. For example, "Ensuring customer satisfaction is "an important priority" for our company this year".

What are some alternatives to using "an important priority"?

Some alternatives to "an important priority" include phrases like "a key objective", "a major concern", or "a crucial matter", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what situations is it best to use the phrase "an important priority"?

It's best to use "an important priority" when you want to emphasize the urgency and significance of a task or goal, especially when resources need to be allocated effectively. It is suitable in formal reports, strategic planning, and when communicating organizational goals.

How does "an important priority" differ from "a simple task"?

"An important priority" signifies a task or goal that is of great significance and requires immediate attention, whereas "a simple task" refers to a straightforward, uncomplicated activity that typically doesn't require significant resources or attention. You wouldn't use "an important priority" to describe something routine.