main priority

USAGE SUMMARY

"main priority" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the most important goal or focus someone has at a given moment. For example, "My main priority is getting a full-time job so I can support my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Advocacy is our main priority.

The Guardian

That was my main priority.

The Guardian

It seems his main priority is tomatoes.

The New York Times

For me, that is my main priority".

The New Yorker

It's my main priority this tournament".

Independent

"My main priority is to win.

The Guardian - Sport

"He is our main priority," Gillick said.

The New York Times

"Honest, constructive criticism is the main priority.

The New York Times

"The main priority is to support Peter.

The Guardian

With Gina, financial success will be the main priority.

The New York Times - Magazine

Wazir's main priority, though, is to ship his family out.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add emphasis, specify why something is the "main priority". This provides context and clarifies its importance.

Common error

While acceptable, excessively using "main priority" can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "primary focus" or "chief concern" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "main priority" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. Ludwig confirms its correct and widespread usage in various contexts. It identifies the most important goal or focus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "main priority" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase for denoting the most important focus or objective. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread use across varied contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While highly versatile, it's crucial to ensure that its use accurately represents the single most important element. Alternatives such as "top priority" or "primary focus" can be used to avoid repetition. Using "main priority" effectively involves understanding its function in conveying the primary objective, aligning with best practices in writing to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

top priority

Replaces "main" with "top", emphasizing the highest level of importance.

number one goal

Replaces "main" with "number one", directly stating the foremost goal.

key objective

Uses "key" to highlight the most important objective to pursue.

primary focus

Substitutes "priority" with "focus", indicating the central point of attention or effort.

central goal

Replaces 'priority' with 'goal' to emphasize the target that must be achieved.

chief concern

Shifts from 'priority' to 'concern', highlighting the primary focus of worry or attention.

highest concern

Replaces "priority" with "concern", underscoring the foremost object of worry or attention.

principal objective

Replaces both "main" and "priority" with more formal synonyms, indicating the key goal.

essential task

Substitutes 'priority' with 'task' emphasizing the action that needs to be done.

foremost aim

Uses "foremost" and "aim" to emphasize the most important goal or purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "main priority" in a sentence?

You can use "main priority" to indicate the most important thing someone is focusing on. For example, "My "main priority" is finishing this project on time."

What can I say instead of "main priority"?

You can use alternatives like "top priority", "chief concern", or "primary focus" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "main priority" since priority implies importance?

While "priority" inherently suggests importance, "main priority" emphasizes that this particular thing is the most important among other priorities. It's used for clarity when multiple priorities exist.

What's the difference between "main priority" and "key objective"?

"Main priority" generally refers to something needing immediate attention, while "key objective" refers to a specific goal that needs to be achieved. The terms are similar but not always interchangeable.