attach importance to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attach importance to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to mean to give great significance or value to something. For example, "We should attach importance to making sure that everyone in our community has safe, affordable housing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This prompted the BTA's announcement last week that it would revamp its marketing, using a new less-traditional logo which, unlike the current one, is not dominated by the Union Jack.Barely half of the British themselves see Britishness as an important part of their identity about the same proportion who attach importance to being English, Scottish or Welsh.

The Economist

"We attach importance to the protection of wild animals like elephants," he said.

The Guardian

"We attach importance to the protection of wild animals like elephants.

The Guardian

"Traditionally, Japanese men don't attach importance to their family life at all.

The New York Times

"In recent years, more and more Chinese have started to attach importance to western festivals," it wrote.

The Guardian

"I myself attach importance to the relationship with your country, a country [which] shares basic values and strategic interests with Japan," Abe said.

The Guardian

"We are aware that a lack of communications … led to the perception Apple's attitude was arrogant and that we do not care and attach importance to consumer feedback.

The Guardian - Tech

"We attach importance to the dialogue with Egypt," one Israeli official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the issue, said Monday.

The New York Times

"We attach importance to cooperation with the U.N. human rights' monitoring mechanism and urge the mechanism to respect China's judicial sovereignty," she said.

The New York Times

"We have taken note of the developments and we request Iran to positively respond and attach importance to the concerns and voice of the international community," said Liu Jianchao, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

The New York Times

As recently as October 2009, the Irish taoiseach, Brian Cowan, stated: "We attach importance to the provisions of a specific bill of rights for Northern Ireland as envisaged in the [Belfast] agreement".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that the subject doing the "attaching" must be clearly defined; avoid passive constructions that obscure who is assigning the importance.

Common error

While "attach importance to" is generally suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts, it can sound overly stiff in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "value" or "care about" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attach importance to" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a subject considers something significant or valuable. It is used to express the act of giving weight or priority to a particular matter or concept. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attach importance to" is a versatile expression used to convey that something is considered valuable or significant. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and appropriate in written English. It is frequently used in formal and semi-formal contexts, particularly in news media, scientific publications, and business communications. When writing, remember to use it when you want to emphasize the significance of an action, idea, or object and make sure that the subject assigning the importance is clearly identified. While there are several alternative phrases, such as "give importance to" or "ascribe importance to", it is best to consider your target audience when choosing the correct wording.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give importance to

Replaces "attach" with "give", offering a slightly more direct and common alternative.

attach significance to

Substitutes "importance" with "significance", which has a slightly more profound connotation.

attach value to

Replaces "importance" with "value", focusing on the worth or merit assigned.

ascribe importance to

Uses "ascribe" which suggests attributing importance, a more formal tone.

attribute importance to

Similar to "ascribe", "attribute" suggests assigning importance as a quality or characteristic.

place emphasis on

Shifts from "attaching" to "placing" emphasis, highlighting the act of stressing something.

emphasize the importance of

Directly states the action of emphasizing, adding a bit more clarity.

highlight the significance of

Similar to emphasizing, but "highlight" draws attention more visually.

stress the value of

Uses "stress" to convey the act of emphasizing worth.

deem important

Offers a simpler, more concise way of saying something is considered important.

FAQs

How can I use "attach importance to" in a sentence?

You can use "attach importance to" to show that something is valuable or significant. For example, "We attach importance to customer feedback" or "The company attach importance to employee well-being".

What are some alternatives to "attach importance to"?

Some alternatives include "give importance to", "ascribe importance to", or "value" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "attach importance to" or "give importance to"?

Both "attach importance to" and "give importance to" are correct. "Attach importance to" might sound slightly more formal, but they are largely interchangeable.

What's the difference between "attach importance to" and "focus on"?

"Attach importance to" means assigning value or significance, while "focus on" means directing attention or effort towards something. They are not always interchangeable; you can focus on something without necessarily considering it important.