give it precedence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give it precedence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the importance or priority of something over others. Example: "In our project, we must give it precedence to ensure timely completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The case from Utah was filed first, and that could give it precedence.

The New Yorker

"Since Steinbeck's candidacy nevertheless appears to me to have a larger chance of gathering unqualified support, I consider myself free to give it precedence".

The Guardian - Books

However, the degree to which voters will give it precedence over other issues in 2014 may be affected by how much time the news media spends covering it, and that, in turn, will be affected by how many other news stories it is competing against.

The New York Times

Although Entrepreneurial Intention is a good means of measuring the intention to start a venture, we use the term Entrepreneur Identity Aspiration, as used by (Farmer et al. 2011), because it is more holistic and therefore we give it precedence over EI.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But it is not just the numbers that give Serena precedence; it is her big, polarizing personality, her roller-coaster story arc, her appetite for the major match and major occasion.

The New York Times - Sports

The most divisive issue is the contradiction between: –Hezbollah's insistence that it must give precedence to its close relationship with Iran and Syria, show solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas movement and thus extend its theater of operations to confront Israel; and.

Forbes

Louis XVIII, reviving it after the Restoration, gave its holders definitive precedence between dukes and counts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It will give precedence to traffic leaving the centre of town at 3am; it will redistribute vehicles to the suburbs ready for morning; and it will incentivise non-ownership – the driverless cars will only be there to meet demand that the trams, underground railways and automated buses cannot.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We do not believe this is the timing or the venue or the circumstances where this thing should be given precedence, when the precedence should be given to saving lives," the Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Maher, told Reuters over the weekend.

The New York Times

But all the principal global institutions are "genetically predisposed" (as it were) to give precedence to the economic over the ecological.

The Guardian

Second, our approach was egalitarian, in that it did not give precedence to one discipline or one method over another--something rarely seen in collaborative projects between anthropology and public health [ 17].

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "give it precedence" when you want to clearly indicate that something should be considered or handled before other things due to its importance or urgency.

Common error

Avoid using "give it precedence" in overly casual or informal settings. Simpler alternatives like "prioritize it" or "focus on it" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give it precedence" functions as a directive, indicating that something should be considered or handled before other things. As Ludwig AI explains, it's about discussing importance or priority. It is often used when establishing a hierarchy or order of importance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "give it precedence" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for emphasizing the importance of something and indicating that it should be dealt with before other things. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it is more frequently found in news and media and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register, it should be used judiciously in overly informal settings. Alternatives like "prioritize it" or "give it priority" can be more appropriate depending on the context. The phrase's function is directive, aiming to instruct or advise on prioritizing a specific item or task.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prioritize it

Directly expresses giving something higher importance.

give it priority

Synonymous with "give it precedence", focusing on importance.

place it first

Indicates the act of putting something in the most important position.

give it preference

Indicates a liking to something more than to others.

elevate its importance

Highlights raising the significance of something.

accord it priority

A formal alternative to giving something higher importance.

emphasize its value

Focuses on stressing the worth of something.

accentuate its position

Similar to elevating its importance.

rank it higher

Expresses giving something a superior rank.

treat it as paramount

Implies regarding something as supremely important.

FAQs

What does "give it precedence" mean?

The phrase "give it precedence" means to treat something as more important than other things and deal with it first. It implies prioritizing something due to its significance or urgency.

How can I use "give it precedence" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "We must "prioritize it" in our project to ensure timely completion." or "The judge decided to "give it priority" over other cases."

What are some alternatives to "give it precedence"?

Alternatives include "prioritize it", "give it priority", "place it first", or "treat it as paramount". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality.

Is "give it precedence" formal or informal?

"Give it precedence" is generally considered more formal. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "prioritize it" or "focus on it" might be more suitable.