chief initiative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chief initiative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the primary or most important project or effort within a particular context, such as a business or organization. Example: "The chief initiative for this quarter is to improve customer satisfaction through enhanced service training."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

His chief initiative as chairman of the Endowment has been to propose what he is calling "a national conversation" on "the meaning of American pluralism," to be conducted through high-level intellectual confabs, town meetings, etc.

The New Yorker

Under the energy-sector reform that is Peña Nieto's chief initiative, Pemex will have to improve its performance as private and foreign firms move into the market, analysts say.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Only solid majorities in the House and the Senate have allowed Democrats to advance their chief initiatives this year.

The New York Times

My first immersion in the social movement that helped take Ted Kennedy's Massachusetts Senate seat away from the Democrats, and may have derailed the President's chief domestic initiative, occurred last fall, in Burlington, Kentucky, at a Take Back America rally.

The New Yorker

Officials said Saturday that the leadership was still trying to exert pressure to win over at least two senators needed to break the filibuster and force a vote on the measure, the president's other chief domestic initiative.

The New York Times

Romney on 'Race to the Top' Grants In a lightening-round question for all the candidates about the role of the federal government in education, Mr. Perry accused Mr. Romney of supporting President Obama's Race to the Top grant contest, the administration's chief education initiative, which offered states $4.3 billion to implement programs to lift student achievement.

The New York Times

Romney and Race to the Top In a lightning-round question for all the candidates about the role of the federal government in education, Rick Perry of Texas accused Mr. Romney of supporting Mr. Obama's Race to the Top grant contest, the administration's chief education initiative, which offered states $4.3 billion for programs to lift student achievement.

The New York Times

— CATHERINE RAMPELL In a lightening-round question for all the candidates about the role of the federal government in education, Mr. Perry accused Mr. Romney of supporting President Obama's Race to the Top grant contest, the administration's chief education initiative, which offered states $4.3 billion to implement programs to lift student achievement.

The New York Times

The scaled-down energy bill would cost $13 billion to $14 billion over 10 years compared with $31 billion for the one that was blocked by a coalition of Republican and Democrats last fall, handing the Bush administration a defeat on one of its chief domestic initiatives.

The New York Times

Chief executive, NewcastleGateshead Initiative.

The Guardian

The city's chief economic development initiative, the Tax Increment Financing program, has barely touched the area.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a multi-faceted strategy, use "chief initiative" to clearly signal the most important component. For example, 'The company's chief initiative is to expand its presence in international markets, supported by smaller regional projects'.

Common error

Avoid using "chief initiative" to describe routine tasks or minor projects. Reserve it for efforts that represent a significant strategic direction or investment for an organization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chief initiative" functions as a noun phrase, where "chief" modifies "initiative". Ludwig confirms it is usable in written English. The phrase is used to identify the most important or primary project or plan.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "chief initiative" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered term used to denote the most important project or plan within a broader context. Ludwig confirms its usability. Though not very common, it frequently appears in news and media sources. To avoid misusing it, ensure it describes a project of significant strategic importance, and consider alternatives like "main initiative" or "primary endeavor" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main initiative

Replaces "chief" with "main", indicating the most important initiative.

principal undertaking

Substitutes both words with synonyms that highlight the project's importance and nature.

primary endeavor

Replaces initiative with endeavor, suggesting a serious and determined effort.

leading project

Uses "leading" to emphasize the project's role in guiding or directing efforts.

flagship program

Implies that the initiative is the most important and representative one.

foremost scheme

Uses "foremost" to indicate the initiative is at the front or most prominent.

central strategy

Shifts focus to the strategic importance of the initiative.

key plan

Highlights that initiative is an important plan.

core activity

Focuses on the central activity or function being performed.

essential measure

Highlights the necessity and importance of the initiative as a step taken to achieve a goal.

FAQs

How to use "chief initiative" in a sentence?

You can use "chief initiative" to describe the main project or effort within a larger plan. For example, "The president's "chief initiative" is to reform the healthcare system".

What can I say instead of "chief initiative"?

You can use alternatives like "main initiative", "primary endeavor", or "leading project" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "chief initiative" or "main initiative"?

Both "chief initiative" and "main initiative" are correct. "Chief initiative" implies a more authoritative or strategic focus, while "main initiative" is a more general term for the most important initiative.

What is the difference between "chief initiative" and "key initiative"?

"Chief initiative" signifies the single most important initiative. A "key initiative" is also important, but there can be multiple "key initiatives", while only one can be the "chief initiative".