my priority was to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my priority was to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing your main focus or goal in a particular situation or context. Example: "During the project, my priority was to ensure that all deadlines were met without compromising quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"My priority was to stay here.

Independent

In conversations, my priority was to be liked, rather than to speak the truth.

The New York Times - Books

My priority was to try to create an environment in which we could just go on.

The New York Times - Arts

When I became the agency's first director, my priority was to remedy this.

The New York Times

My priority was to be their counselor, their role model, a person they looked up to.

The New York Times

"I thought she was really striking, but my priority was to move my father away," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"My priority is to stay here.

The Guardian - Sport

My priority is to continue making art.

The Guardian

My priority is to keep students learning.

The Guardian

My priority is to keep it Africa-wide," she said.

The New York Times

My priority is to get the team ready for Uruguay.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain consistency in tense when describing past priorities. Verify that the surrounding sentences also reflect past actions or states.

Common error

Avoid shifting from past to present tense when describing the priority and its subsequent actions. Stick to the past tense to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my priority was to" functions as an introductory phrase that highlights the main focus or objective someone had in a past situation. It sets the context by specifying what was considered most important at the time. Ludwig shows many examples of the phrase coming from reliable sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "my priority was to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to introduce and emphasize a past objective. Ludwig confirms its usability with numerous examples from reliable sources. It is suitable for diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to professional settings. To ensure clarity, specify whose priority it was and maintain tense consistency. Alternatives such as "my main goal was to" or "my primary aim was to" can offer nuanced variations. Understanding its proper use will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my main goal was to

Replaces "priority" with "goal", emphasizing the desired outcome.

my objective was to

Similar to "goal" and "aim", focusing on a specific target or result.

my primary aim was to

Substitutes "priority" with "aim", highlighting the intended target or objective.

my intention was to

Emphasizes the purpose or design behind an action.

my initial plan was to

Highlights the original strategy or intention.

my chief concern was to

Shifts the focus to a matter of importance or worry, rather than just a planned action.

I focused primarily on

Changes the structure to emphasize the act of focusing, rather than a stated priority.

I made it a point to

Indicates a deliberate decision to take a specific action.

the first thing I did was to

Emphasizes the temporal sequence of actions, highlighting the initial step.

I was most concerned with

Focuses on a feeling of worry or interest, rather than a pre-planned action.

FAQs

What's a good substitute for "my priority was to"?

Alternatives include "my main goal was to", "my primary aim was to", or "my chief concern was to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "my priority was to"?

Yes, "my priority was to" is grammatically correct. It's commonly used to express the main focus or objective in a past situation. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples from reliable sources.

How can I use "my priority was to" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce your main focus in a past situation. For example, "When I took over the project, my priority was to streamline the workflow."

What's the difference between "my priority was to" and "my priority is to"?

"My priority was to" refers to a past focus or objective, while "my priority is to" indicates a current focus or objective. Use the former when discussing past actions and the latter for present or future actions.