as a second order priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a second order priority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the ranking or importance of tasks, goals, or considerations in a specific context. Example: "While the main objective is to increase sales, improving customer service should be addressed as a second order priority."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When disasters strike – floods in Pakistan, earthquakes in Nepal and Haiti or Ebola in west Africa, the restoration of education is often viewed as a second order priority.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is in this text were Wilson outlines pre-conditions for democracy in modern nation-states, and proclaims the following as a first-order priority; homogeneity of race and community of thought and purpose among the people.

Huffington Post

At first, Mr. Biden said, Congress responded with significant money, "but as the years passed, security became a second-order priority".

The New York Times

-- (C) The creation of a professional military force will remain a second-order priority for Qatar.

The Guardian

Australians – the first Australians – dying young, going blind and deaf and locked up in prisons, dying in custody, is not a first-order priority.

The Guardian

Especially for underdeveloped countries, sugarcane residue disposal has a first-order priority.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Since I have been in Jamaica I have often heard that it "takes cash to care", and this has too often been taken as an excuse to put children as a second order of priority on the national agenda.

Unicef

It is important to mobilise people who at the moment are concerned, but basically complacent, and turn them into people who are much more activated and essentially voting about climate as a first-order political priority rather than a third- or fourth-order priority – judging politicians on the basis of their climate policy.

The Guardian

"Reforming the capital gains discount should be a first order of priority for the government".

The Guardian

Ellison et al. recently made a "call to action that targets a reversal of paradigms…to one that treats the hydrologic and climate-cooling effects of trees and forests as the first order of priority" (Ellison et al. 2017).

Forest Ecosystems

A second-order difference is defined as.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a second order priority" when you want to clearly indicate that something is important, but less so than something else. This helps in setting expectations and managing resources effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "as a second order priority" when the item is actually time-sensitive but not strategically significant. A time-sensitive task is by definition of first order priority, and in that case replace this expression with alternatives like "to begin with", depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a second order priority" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the relative importance or ranking of an action, task, or consideration. Ludwig examples showcase it in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a second order priority" serves to indicate that something is less critical than a primary focus. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it functions as an adverbial phrase used to establish a hierarchy of importance in resource allocation and strategic planning. While grammatically correct and acceptable across various contexts, it is recommended to consider using simpler alternatives like "as a lower priority" or "as a secondary priority" for greater clarity. It appears with equal frequency in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. Finally remember that this term defines importance and not urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a lower priority

This alternative directly replaces "second order" with "lower", maintaining simplicity and clarity.

as a secondary priority

Substituting "second order" with "secondary" provides a slightly more common and easily understood alternative.

of lesser importance

This option uses a more descriptive phrase to convey reduced significance.

less critical

Focuses on the reduced criticality or urgency of the item in question.

subordinate to

Highlights the hierarchical relationship where the item is below something else in importance.

not the primary concern

Shifts the focus to what is not the main concern, implying a lower level of attention.

a subsequent priority

Indicates that the item will be addressed after other, more important things are handled.

a lower-tier priority

Emphasizes that the item belongs to a lower level or rank of priorities.

a non-essential priority

Highlights a reduced urgency and necessity.

not a top priority

Directly states that the item is not among the most important considerations.

FAQs

How do I use "as a second order priority" in a sentence?

Use "as a second order priority" to indicate that something is less important than another item. For example, "While increasing market share is the main goal, improving employee satisfaction is treated "as a second order priority"".

What are some alternatives to "as a second order priority"?

You can use phrases such as "as a lower priority", "as a secondary priority", or "of lesser importance" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "as a second order priority"?

It's appropriate when you need to rank tasks, goals, or considerations in terms of their importance, clearly distinguishing between primary and secondary items. It's not appropriate when describing an urgent situation.

What is the difference between "as a first order priority" and "as a second order priority"?

"As a first order priority" indicates something of utmost importance, while ""as a second order priority"" signifies that something is important but less critical than the primary focus.