has a higher priority than

USAGE SUMMARY

"has a higher priority than" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase usually means that something is more important than the other. You can use it when you want to make a comparison between two or more things. For example, "Completing the project has a higher priority than watching videos."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Improving the initial interfacial interlocking using a threaded implant has a higher priority than using cylindrical or step designs with a rough surface for an immediately loaded implant.

Computers in Biology and Medicine

When a thread is added to the ready list that has a higher priority than the currently running thread, the current thread should immediately yield the processor to the new thread.

Stanford University

It has a higher priority than the old war against drugs or the new one against human trafficking, and is far bigger than the effort against paedophilia or fraud.

The Guardian

When another functional group of the compound has a higher priority than the amino group (−NH2, −NHR, or −NR2), the latter is named as a substituent, as in aminoacetic acid, NH2−CH2COOH, and 2- dimethylamino)ethanol, (CH3)2- dimethylamino

Encyclopedia Britannica

The American ambassador here, William B. Wood, said that "nothing at this mission has a higher priority than the well-being and safe release" of the crew members, according to a letter sent to the families of the missing men before Christmas.

The New York Times

As stated earlier, the structural fragment has a higher priority than the terminal atom.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Tables are searched row by row, thus earlier rows have a higher priority than later rows.

ASIC and FPGA Verification A Guide to Component Modeling

Michael Inglesh, 38, said he recognized, too, that emergency workers had a higher priority than his 14-year-old cat, Nespa, sitting in his Battery Park City apartment.

The New York Times

This year, the established areas are receiving 80percentt of the school building money because they have a higher priority than unplanned new development areas that exemplify sprawl.

The New York Times

Islanders General Manager Mike Milbury said before the game that the team's health had a higher priority than scraping up some momentum before a playoff series this week against top-seeded Ottawa.

The New York Times - Sports

Recent studies of marriage promotion in America suggest that it is ineffective when directed towards non-white or poor families, for whom financial security seems to have a higher priority than improving intimate relationships.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two options, ensure the context clearly indicates why the first option ("A") "has a higher priority than" the second option ("B"). Explain the rationale for prioritizing "A" over "B".

Common error

Avoid stating that something "has a higher priority than" something else without providing context or justification. Readers need to understand why one thing is more important to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has a higher priority than" functions as a comparative expression. It is used to indicate that one thing is considered more important or urgent compared to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has a higher priority than" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for establishing relative importance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It functions as a comparative expression, guiding decision-making by clarifying the order of tasks or goals. While versatile, it is most frequently found in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating a generally neutral to formal register. When employing this phrase, ensure clear justification is provided to prevent ambiguity. Related phrases such as "is more important than" and "takes precedence over" can be used as alternatives to enhance writing. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is more important than

This alternative uses simpler language and focuses on the relative importance.

is prioritized over

This alternative uses a passive voice construction and emphasizes the action of prioritizing.

takes precedence over

This alternative is more concise and emphasizes the act of superseding something else.

is of greater significance than

This alternative is more formal and highlights the superior importance.

outweighs the importance of

This alternative emphasizes the significant difference in value or consequence.

is paramount compared to

This alternative emphasizes the supreme importance of one thing over another.

supersedes the need for

This alternative highlights the idea of replacing or overriding a requirement.

holds more weight than

This alternative employs a weight metaphor to signify greater importance.

ranks above

This option provides a shorter alternative using a ranking metaphor.

is the main consideration over

This alternative makes the idea of "main consideration" explicit.

FAQs

How can I use "has a higher priority than" in a sentence?

Use "has a higher priority than" to indicate that one task, goal, or item is more important or urgent than another. For example, "Meeting the deadline "has a higher priority than" attending the optional training session."

What are some alternatives to saying "has a higher priority than"?

Instead of saying "has a higher priority than", you could use phrases like "is more important than", "takes precedence over", or "is prioritized over" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state why something "has a higher priority than" something else?

While not always mandatory, providing context for why something ""has a higher priority than"" another enhances clarity. This is especially important when the priority isn't obvious or might be interpreted differently.

Which is correct: "a higher priority than" or "higher priority than"?

Both "a higher priority than" and "higher priority than" are grammatically correct; however, ""has a higher priority than"" is more common and generally preferred because it reads more naturally. It's not mandatory to use the article "a", but it usually improves the flow of the sentence.