chief merit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chief merit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to highlight the primary advantage or most significant quality of something. Example: "The chief merit of this proposal is its potential to reduce costs significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Franklin's chief merit, at least initially, was his celebrity.

The Economist

Infrared radiation has its chief merit in its heat-producing quality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its chief merit is to approach her unreadability less as an obstacle than as an opportunity.

The Guardian - Books

Thought's danger, as well as its chief merit, is its tendency to displace the world's noisy immediacy.

The New York Times - Books

In 1954 Heisler helmed Beachhead, an effective World War II yarn starring Tony Curtis as a hard-boiled U.S. Marine, and the melodrama This Is My Love, the chief merit of which was the teaming of Darnell and Faith Domergue.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The chief merit of the book lies in the refutation of certain persistent arguments that historians have advanced regarding the pogroms.... Kopstein and Wittenberg have offered an excellent outline for more research.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Simplicity of design, beauty of line, and charm of expression were supposedly his chief merits.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is believed to be one of the chief merits of the American system of written constitutional law that all the powers intrusted to the government, whether State or National, are divided into the three grand departments, the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

Cornell University

(One of the chief merits of "What Hath God Wrought" is Howe's earnest effort, and great success, at chronicling changes of all sorts, from rates of childhood mortality to the gross national product, from the frequency of bathing to the firepower of cannons).

The New Yorker

One of the chief merits of The Space In Between is that it portrays her outside of her art, as a complicated, curious person searching for answers—just like the rest of us.

Vice

The present study had two chief merits.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chief merit" to succinctly highlight the single most important positive aspect of a subject, ensuring clarity and emphasis in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "chief merit" in casual conversations or informal writing. Its formality can sound stilted or pretentious in everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chief merit" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It identifies the most significant positive quality or advantage of something, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "chief merit" serves to emphasize the primary positive attribute of a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English. While not frequently used, appearing most commonly in news articles, encyclopedias, and academic writing, it offers a direct way to highlight the most significant quality. When employing this phrase, avoid overuse in informal contexts to maintain clarity and emphasis. Alternatives such as "primary advantage" or "principal virtue" may suit different contexts. "Chief merit" is indeed useful for emphasizing a primary positive attribute in diverse formal or neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary advantage

Focuses on the benefit as the main element rather than the worth.

principal virtue

Replaces "merit" with "virtue", emphasizing a positive quality or strength.

main strength

Emphasizes the power or resilience as the key attribute.

key benefit

Highlights a specific advantage or positive outcome.

core value

Highlights the central importance or guiding principle.

greatest asset

Indicates something that is owned and has significant worth.

prime quality

Highlights a distinguishing attribute.

major advantage

Similar to primary advantage, but implies a broader range of benefits.

central importance

Emphasizes the vital nature or role of something.

chief attribute

Replaces "merit" with "attribute", referring to a characteristic.

FAQs

How can I use "chief merit" in a sentence?

Use "chief merit" to emphasize the most important advantage or positive quality of something. For example, "The "chief merit" of this plan is its simplicity."

What can I say instead of "chief merit"?

You can use alternatives like "primary advantage", "principal virtue", or "main strength" depending on the context.

Is "chief merit" the same as "main advantage"?

While similar, "chief merit" implies a more inherent or intrinsic value, while "main advantage" focuses on a benefit derived from something. The phrase primary advantage, could be used instead.

What is the difference between "chief merit" and "chief attribute"?

"Chief merit" refers to the most valuable quality, while "chief attribute" simply refers to the most prominent characteristic. The phrase "chief attribute" does not necessarily imply value.