as a highest priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a highest priority" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "as the highest priority." Example: "We need to address customer feedback as the highest priority to improve our services."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Congress told us that after the cabinet reshuffle they would do this as a highest priority: that they'd resolve it, talk to us, call us back for discussions and probably introduce a bill in Parliament as well.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That calculation won't change until people view tackling global warming as a higher priority.

The Guardian

Some back the Melbourne Metro rail project as a higher priority than the East West Link.

The Guardian

These are clear signs that Ofsted regards preventing homophobic bullying as a high priority.

The Guardian

She also sees expansion of The Times's multimedia journalism as a high priority.

The New York Times

The Labour leader also reassured MPs last week that he was treating the matter as a high priority.

The Guardian

In the grand scheme of things, Commissioner Bud Selig doesn't see the D.H. rule as a high priority.

The New York Times - Sports

Safeguarding children is always described as a high priority, and if we pass laws we should use them.

The Guardian

Only 17% of companies cited environmental sustainability as a high priority for business travel planning, down from 29% a year ago.

The Economist

"The Mabahith identified detainee as a high priority for the government of Saudi Arabia, an indication of his law enforcement value to them".

The Guardian

Vestager is treating her investigations as a high priority and has indicated EU regulators will actively pursue its new parent company, Alphabet, on multiple fronts.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating something is of utmost importance, use the correct grammatical structure: "as the highest priority".

Common error

Avoid using "as a highest priority". The correct form is "as the highest priority". Using "a" implies there are multiple "highest" priorities which is contradictory.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a highest priority" is intended to function as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the level of importance or urgency assigned to an action or task. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a highest priority" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The correct form is "as the highest priority". Although it aims to emphasize importance, its improper usage undermines its effectiveness. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, reinforcing the need for using the grammatically sound alternative. While the intention behind the phrase is clear – to signal utmost importance – proper grammar is crucial for clear and effective communication. Instead, rely on alternatives like "as the top priority" or "as the main priority" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

As the top priority

Replaces "highest" with "top", emphasizing the supreme importance.

As the utmost priority

Substitutes "highest" with "utmost", highlighting the extreme importance.

As the main priority

Replaces "highest" with "main", indicating the primary focus.

As the chief priority

Substitutes "highest" with "chief", denoting the leading priority.

As the key priority

Replaces "highest" with "key", signifying the crucial priority.

As the most important thing

Emphasizes overall importance rather than strict prioritization.

As the primary concern

Shifts the focus to a matter of concern that takes precedence.

Of paramount importance

Expresses a high degree of importance, not necessarily a ranking.

A matter of urgency

Highlights the time-sensitive nature of the issue.

A critical matter

Stresses the crucial and decisive nature of the matter.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "as a highest priority"?

The correct way to express this is "as the highest priority". You could also say "as the top priority" or "as the main priority".

What can I say instead of "as a highest priority"?

You can use alternatives like "as the top priority", "as the utmost priority", or "as the main priority".

Is "as a highest priority" grammatically correct?

No, "as a highest priority" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "as the highest priority". The definite article "the" is required because "highest" is a superlative adjective and refers to a single, top-ranked item.

What is the difference between "as a high priority" and "as the highest priority"?

"As a high priority" indicates something is important. "As the highest priority" indicates that something is the most important thing among all other priorities. The phrases aren't interchangeable.