as a second priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a second priority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the order of importance or focus on tasks or objectives, indicating that something is not the primary concern but still holds significance. Example: "While the main goal is to increase sales, improving customer service will be addressed as a second priority."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

As a second priority, he needs to make clear that he thanks the trade unions for their support, but recognises that they are a special interest group like any other.

The Economist

John Lipscomb, for example, of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, says it's important that candidates avoid presenting teaching "as a second priority".

Science Magazine

Another 17.6percentt of libraries indicated Indo-European languages as a second priority.

Huffington Post

As a second priority test, 35% of participants chose gonorrhea followed by chlamydia (15%), HBV and/or HCV (10%), and syphilis (10%).

Plosone

Four of the groups named herpes simplex virus as a second priority, two groups identified T. vaginalis, and one group selected Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Plosone

impact on access to and appropriate use of medicines?) as a second priority.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

As a first priority, he needs to shake his party from the cloying nostalgia they showed today for the good old days of massive public spending under Gordon Brown.

The Economist

Rob Wyman, a Coast Guard spokesman, said the agency's three local helicopter crews were concentrating on medical emergencies as a first priority for air evacuation, leaving many others stranded.

The New York Times

As a third priority he listed land reform -- but done lawfully, not in the Mugabe way with mobs occupying white-owned farms.

The New York Times

He also stressed that he would want to maintain employment for people in the defence industry, who would be involved in building Trident submarines, as a "first priority".

The Guardian

"Be assured the government wants to get particularly women and children out as a first priority from Nauru – we're working on that".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a second priority" to clearly delineate tasks or goals that are important but not the primary focus. This helps in resource allocation and time management.

Common error

Avoid using "as a second priority" when the item is actually of equal or greater importance than the stated first priority. This can lead to miscommunication and inefficient execution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a second priority" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the relative importance or order of an action or consideration. As Ludwig states, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as a second priority" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for indicating that something is important but not the primary focus. As Ludwig AI explains, it’s appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While the phrase is not extremely common, it is a clear way to organize tasks and goals, signaling to others where attention and resources should be directed after the main objectives are achieved. Alternatives like "secondary importance" or "lower down the list" can provide similar meaning, but "as a second priority" offers a direct and easily understood way to establish relative importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondary importance

Emphasizes the lesser level of importance compared to the main priority.

lower down the list

Indicates a position further down in a list of priorities.

less urgent matter

Highlights the reduced level of urgency associated with the task.

of lesser concern

Focuses on the reduced level of worry or attention required.

subordinate consideration

Implies a lower ranking in terms of importance and focus.

second string

Suggests a backup or reserve option in terms of priority.

next in line

Highlights the sequential order, but not immediately important.

reserve priority

Indicates something held back until the first priority is addressed.

second-tier item

Emphasizes the ranking as something less important or urgent.

not the main focus

Clearly indicates that something else is more important.

FAQs

How to use "as a second priority" in a sentence?

The phrase "as a second priority" indicates that something is important, but not as crucial as the main focus. For instance, "While increasing revenue is the primary objective, improving employee satisfaction will be addressed "as a second priority"."

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

Alternatives include "secondary importance", "lower down the list", or "less urgent matter" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as a secondary priority" instead of "as a second priority"?

Yes, "as a secondary priority" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative. The choice between the two often depends on stylistic preference.

What's the difference between treating something "as a first priority" and "as a second priority"?

Treating something "as a first priority" means it receives immediate and primary attention, whereas treating something "as a second priority" means it is important but addressed after the primary concerns are handled.