giving precedence to

USAGE SUMMARY

"giving precedence to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone or something is being given a higher priority than something else. For example, "The director is giving precedence to new projects, rather than focusing on the existing ones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The purpose of giving precedence to full-power noncommercial stations is to serve local listeners.

The New York Times

Giving precedence to personal conscience over parliamentary decisions is now much more acceptable than ever before.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a report citing Mr Dink's case, Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's human-rights commissioner, rebuked Turkish judges and prosecutors for "giving precedence to the protection of the state over the protection of human rights".

The Economist

Berlin may also be making a mistake by giving precedence to bilateral ties with China over joining the European Commission's attempts to establish a level playing field for European investments in China.

The New York Times

The United States Olympic Committee has been equally business like in its distribution of funds... giving precedence to the sports and teams most likely to produce medals for our side.

The New Yorker

It bothers most Americans that we are giving precedence to a set of people who jumped the long lines to enter America.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Whatever their specific approach, progressive 20th-century composers everywhere clearly gave precedence to melodic-rhythmic energies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She began to dodge the limelight in 2007, to give precedence to Xi's political career.

The Guardian

Working with a smaller pie, Mr. Gore also gave precedence to the elderly over working families.

The New York Times

Captain Vostrikov's dilemma is whether to give precedence to his orders from the Kremlin or the lives of his men.

The New York Times

She said some of the men had been put below to give precedence to women and children.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "giving precedence to" when you want to clearly indicate that one thing is being considered more important than another in a specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "giving precedence to" in very informal settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "prioritizing" or "favoring" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "giving precedence to" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a gerund phrase acting as a verbal noun. It introduces the concept of assigning higher importance or priority to something over something else, influencing decisions or actions. Ludwig provides examples of this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "giving precedence to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that one thing is being prioritized over another. While not as common as "giving priority to", it's well-understood and suitable for neutral to formal contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. Examples from news, science, and encyclopedia sources show its versatility. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the act of assigning greater importance or rank to something, and avoid using it in informal situations where simpler alternatives are more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

giving priority to

This alternative replaces "precedence" with the more common term "priority".

giving preference to

This alternative uses "preference" instead of "precedence", offering a slightly different nuance.

prioritizing

This alternative focuses on the act of prioritizing, omitting the prepositional phrase 'to'.

placing importance on

This alternative conveys assigning significance, closely related to giving priority.

favoring

This alternative is a more concise way of expressing preference, eliminating the noun "precedence".

giving prominence to

This alternative means making something stand out, often visually or figuratively.

emphasizing

This alternative shifts the focus to highlighting the importance of something, not necessarily giving it explicit priority.

leaning towards

This alternative suggests a tendency to favor something without explicitly stating priority.

stressing

Similar to emphasizing, this alternative implies highlighting rather than direct prioritization.

giving the nod to

This alternative is a more informal and idiomatic way of indicating approval or selection.

FAQs

How can I use "giving precedence to" in a sentence?

Use "giving precedence to" to show that one thing is favored or prioritized over another. For example, "The company is "giving precedence to" sustainable practices."

What phrases are similar to "giving precedence to"?

Similar phrases include "giving priority to", "favoring", and "emphasizing". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context.

Is it better to say "giving precedence to" or "giving priority to"?

Both phrases are correct, but "giving priority to" is more commonly used and may sound more natural in some contexts. "Giving precedence to" can sound more formal and deliberate.

What is the difference between "giving precedence to" and "emphasizing"?

"Giving precedence to" means assigning a higher priority, while "emphasizing" means highlighting or drawing attention to something. They are related but not interchangeable; you can emphasize something without necessarily giving it precedence.