not secondary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not secondary" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that something is not of lesser importance or significance. Example: "The main goal of this project is to increase sales, but improving customer satisfaction is not secondary either."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"That's not secondary".

The New York Times - Sports

Laws will say many children who only just achieve level four are not "secondary ready".

The Guardian

The other religions are not secondary contexts of Christian redemption but independent paths of salvation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(He loved visiting New York's CBGB, where performance was not secondary to the sound).

The New Yorker

It is not secondary to other, more high profile elements of economic strategy.

The Economist

A federal judge affirmed this second (but not secondary) meaning on Friday.

The New York Times

In many ways, I preferred Melbourne, perhaps because its cooler climate creates more of an indoor culture, where art, music and theatre are not secondary to sun, sea and sand.

The Guardian - Travel

It is easier to find money for castles and cathedrals, of course, in a country that believes "art is equal to other investments, not secondary," as Mr. Devedjian puts it.

The New York Times

Whatever the reason, Ms. Navarrete argued, the result is a dearth of dramas and comedy programs in English that portray the Hispanic experience and that have Latino characters who are not secondary characters or cast as maids.

The New York Times

According to Locke, primary qualities, but not secondary qualities, are represented in the mind as they exist in the object itself.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For, to judge from the many emails I receive from readers, it is not secondary ticketing that is their biggest headache.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not secondary" to emphasize that something is just as important as something else, especially when there's a risk of it being overlooked.

Common error

Avoid using "not secondary" when you simply mean 'less important'. The phrase is most effective when you want to assert equal or near-equal importance, not just a slight decrease in priority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not secondary" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or concept, indicating that it is of significant or equal importance. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it's a grammatically correct way to emphasize something's value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not secondary" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to emphasize that something is of equal or near-equal importance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is best employed when you want to counter a potential underestimation of something's value, particularly in news, scientific, and formal contexts. While alternatives like "essential" or "crucial" exist, "not secondary" specifically addresses and negates the idea of lesser importance. Remember to use it when you want to stress equality rather than simply indicate reduced priority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of equal importance

Specifies that something holds the same level of significance as something else.

of primary importance

Rephrases to directly state the high level of importance.

not subsidiary

Uses a formal term to negate the idea of something being less important.

primary

This single-word alternative offers a direct antonym, implying top-level importance.

essential

Highlights the necessity of something, making it indispensable rather than merely 'not secondary'.

crucial

Emphasizes the decisive importance of something.

indispensable

Highlights the necessity of something, similar to 'essential'.

significant

Indicates something is noteworthy and impactful, moving away from a hierarchical negation.

important

A basic synonym conveying the value or relevance of something.

on par

Indicates equality in status or importance, a more colloquial alternative.

FAQs

How to use "not secondary" in a sentence?

Use "not secondary" to indicate something is equally important as another. For example: "While increasing profits is key, ensuring employee well-being is "not secondary"."

What can I say instead of "not secondary"?

You can use alternatives like "essential", "crucial", or "of equal importance" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "not secondary" or "unsecondary"?

"Not secondary" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Unsecondary" is not a standard English term.

What's the difference between "not secondary" and "less important"?

"Not secondary" emphasizes that something is equally or nearly as important as something else. "Less important" indicates a clear difference in priority, with one thing being subordinate to another.