our chief concern

USAGE SUMMARY

'our chief concern' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is of greatest importance. For example, "Our chief concern is to keep everyone safe and healthy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Our chief concern is public health and safety," Mr. Carbone said.

The New York Times

"Our chief concern is to stop the violence," the official said, explaining why the administration had chosen not to criticize Israel publicly.

The New York Times

And given our primate psychology, it is hard to help finding this admirable.But if our chief concern is human welfare, and especially that of the poor, we should be willing to ask whether we should find this kind of thing so admirable.

The Economist

More than our latitudinal coordinates, south is intersected by longitudinal pulls, and whatever and wherever the axis, we want work at that place to be our chief concern.

Johns Hopkins University

(The logic escaped me again. If safety was our chief concern, wouldn't we all be at home? A Barcalounger is safe. A living room in the suburbs is safe. A River of No Return, by definition, will not be as safe as a Barcalounger).

Forbes

To point out that the data is faulty is irresistible -- but not our chief concern here.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

One of our chief concerns before Irene made landfall was the possibility of significant flooding and widespread power outages.

The New York Times

Thus we inevitably arrive at the infinitely negotiated Farm Bill, whose subsidies for commodity crops — soy, corn and wheat are our chief concerns — directly promote the production of foods high in hyperprocessed carbohydrates and fats (for simplicity's sake, junk foods) and the kind of eating that is killing us.

The New York Times

That was one of our chief concerns this year, was making sure that people could legitimately focus their career on League of Legends.

Forbes

Our chief concerns during that time were drugs, spinning Creation released records, and avoiding employment.

Vice

"Our chief concerns are that we do everything we can to assist in controlling this spill and assessing its damage," said department secretary John Skvarla, who announced that he was on his way to the site Tuesday.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "our chief concern" to introduce the most pressing issue or priority in a discussion or argument to emphasize its importance.

Common error

Avoid using "our chief concern" when the concern is only relevant to a specific subgroup. Ensure the concern genuinely applies to the group indicated by "our" to maintain accuracy and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "our chief concern" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the primary subject of worry or attention for a particular group. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from public health to political matters.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "our chief concern" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for highlighting the most pressing issue or worry for a group. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with real-world examples, primarily from news and business contexts. While other phrases like "our main worry" or "our top priority" offer similar meanings, "our chief concern" maintains a neutral tone suitable for formal writing. Remember to ensure clarity regarding who "our" refers to and that the concern genuinely applies to that group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

our main worry

Substitutes "concern" with "worry" and "chief" with "main", offering a more informal tone.

our primary focus

Replaces "concern" with "focus" emphasizing the prioritization aspect.

our top priority

Emphasizes the importance and ranking of the issue.

our biggest fear

Highlights the apprehension aspect of the concern.

what we're most worried about

A more conversational and less formal phrasing.

our greatest apprehension

Uses a more formal and intense term for worry.

the most important thing for us

Focuses on the element of significance rather than worry.

what matters most to us

Highlights personal values and importance.

our central preoccupation

Highlights the dominating nature of the concern.

the crux of the matter for us

Emphasizes the core or essential point of concern.

FAQs

How can I use "our chief concern" in a sentence?

You can use "our chief concern" to highlight the most pressing issue or priority. For example, "Our chief concern is ensuring the safety of all employees."

What is a less formal way to say "our chief concern"?

Alternatives include phrases like "our main worry" or "what we're most worried about". These options are more conversational.

What's the difference between "our chief concern" and "our top priority"?

"Our chief concern" emphasizes worry or apprehension, while "our top priority" highlights the importance and ranking of an issue. They can be used interchangeably, but their nuances differ.

Is "our chief concern" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "our chief concern" is appropriate for formal writing. However, consider the audience and context. More formal alternatives, such as "our greatest apprehension", may be more suitable in certain situations.