looking for priorities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking for priorities" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of identifying or determining what is most important in a given context or situation. Example: "In our meeting, we will be looking for priorities to ensure we focus on the most critical tasks first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I'm looking for priorities.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As we struggle with budgets and priorities, looking for the right investments becomes even more important.

Huffington Post

In negotiation, this is reflected in the tendency for one side in a conflict to assume that the other side has the same priorities rather than looking for evidence of the other side's priorities in the way the negotiation proceeds.

Huffington Post

Availability of public transport was one of my top priorities when looking for a university.

The Guardian

Families are getting fed up and looking for colleges to examine their priorities and affordability.

Forbes

Calvert added that the main priority in looking for a partner is ensuring that people in Trafford can continue to access excellent and appropriate health services, "even though we are too small to remain viable in our own right".

The Guardian

And in Australia, Slater & Gordon's Conveyancing Works research revealed 18 to 24 year olds ranked proximity to the central business district as a top priority when looking for real estate.

BBC

Right now her priority is looking for work, she can't come to the coalition.

Huffington Post

When you're looking to move cities, the choice depends on priorities: Are you looking for somewhere young and fun?

Huffington Post

But if you're looking for insights into Paul's policy priorities -- and what his presidency would actually mean for people in need -- you need to be careful about how you interpret his professional history.

Huffington Post

Even before the issue of human rights is raised, though, Egyptian leaders and activists will be looking for Mr. Obama to address their first priority: the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looking for priorities", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the looking and in what area or situation. For example, "The new management team is looking for priorities in the marketing department."

Common error

Avoid using "looking for priorities" when the priorities are already known but are not being followed. Instead, focus on addressing why the existing priorities are not being met.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking for priorities" functions as a verb phrase acting as a gerund phrase, typically used as part of a larger clause. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct. This phrase often serves as a starting point to define what has to be done first.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looking for priorities" is grammatically correct and usable for expressing the act of seeking or determining what is most important. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is uncommon, indicating that while understood, alternative phrases like "identifying priorities" or "determining priorities" may be more frequently used. Its usage spans various contexts but is most prevalent in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the search's context and scope to avoid misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identifying priorities

Focuses on the act of pinpointing key priorities, rather than the process of searching.

determining priorities

Emphasizes the decision-making aspect of establishing what's important.

establishing priorities

Highlights the act of setting up or creating a hierarchy of priorities.

assessing priorities

Implies a careful evaluation of different priorities to understand their relative importance.

evaluating priorities

Similar to "assessing priorities", but with a stronger emphasis on judging the value of each priority.

seeking priorities

More formal than "looking for priorities" and suggests a deliberate search.

defining priorities

Focuses on clarifying what the priorities are, rather than simply finding them.

uncovering priorities

Suggests that the priorities are hidden and need to be revealed.

finding key objectives

Replaces "priorities" with a synonym, shifting the emphasis to goals.

ascertaining important goals

A more formal version that emphasizes the process of finding significant objectives.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "looking for priorities" to sound more formal?

You can use alternatives like "identifying priorities", "determining priorities", or "establishing priorities" for a more professional tone.

Is it correct to say "looking for priority" instead of "looking for priorities"?

While grammatically acceptable if you are only seeking a single, top-most item, it's generally better to use the plural form "looking for priorities" as organizations or individuals often have multiple competing priorities.

What's the difference between "looking for priorities" and "setting priorities"?

"Looking for priorities" implies a search or discovery process, while "setting priorities" means you are actively deciding what is important.

What does it mean to be "looking for priorities" in a project management context?

In project management, "looking for priorities" often refers to the initial phase of assessing tasks and deadlines to determine what needs to be addressed first to ensure successful project completion.