our principal concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "our principal concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the main issue or priority in a particular context, such as business, project management, or personal matters. Example: "In this meeting, our principal concern is ensuring the safety of our employees during the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Our principal concern, however, is with the reaction of the criminal element.

The New Yorker

A statement from the Leeds trust said: "Our principal concern has always been, and continues to be, a patient's health.

Independent

Our principal concern may, informally, be phrased as follows: given a specific argument system, H, and argument x within H, what can be stated concerning the number of moves a dispute might take for one of its protagonists to accept that x has some defence respectively cannot be defended?

Artificial Intelligence

In a blogpost on the change, Etherington said: "Our principal concern with the original clause was that it was counterproductive and would have meant grant-funded charities were unable to provide policymakers with crucial insight that improves legislation, regulation and public services.

The Guardian

As a matter of public policy, our principal concern should be to make higher education more readily available and affordable to students — of whatever race — from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, whose parents cannot provide the private schools, piano lessons, SAT tutors and other advantages that well-to-do parents can.

The New York Times

Although the power conversion efficiency of the present work is lower than the highest value reported in the literature [6], our principal concern is on whether the tree-like nanostructure can improve on the conversion efficiency of a DSSC composed of nanorods.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

If not, what should our principal concerns in political philosophy be?

University of California, Berkeley

Indeed one of our principal concerns is that it plays on these ideas and gets children accustomed to giving up their highly personal biometric data as a matter of routine.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the way, since you mention WikiLeaks, one of our principal concerns in turning those documents into news stories in 2010 was to avoid endangering innocent informants — not Americans, but dissidents, scholars, human rights advocates or ordinary civilians whose names were mentioned in the classified cables from foreign outposts.

The New York Times

"Our principal concerns relate to the climate change emissions which would be associated with the use of shale gas on a large scale to generate electricity," Mr Clubb told BBC Radio Wales.

BBC

Apart from our principal concerns regarding the meaningfulness of such a summary estimate for reasons mentioned above, it is important to do the calculations methodologically correctly, that is by considering the relative frequencies of CRC and its precursors in the general population.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "our principal concern", ensure the context clearly identifies who "our" refers to, enhancing clarity and avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "our principal concern" in casual conversations or informal writing; opt for simpler alternatives like "our main worry" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "our principal concern" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It typically identifies the most significant issue or worry within a specific context, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "our principal concern" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that identifies the most important issue or worry. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. It is frequently found in news, scientific, and academic writing, signaling a neutral to formal register. Alternatives include "our main concern" or "our primary focus", offering similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When using this phrase, clarity regarding the referent of "our" is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

our main concern

Replaces "principal" with "main", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

our primary focus

Substitutes "concern" with "focus", shifting the emphasis to a central point of attention rather than a worry.

our chief worry

Replaces "principal concern" with "chief worry", highlighting the anxiety aspect.

our top priority

Focuses on importance and order of precedence.

our central preoccupation

Emphasizes a dominant and absorbing thought.

what concerns us most

Transforms the phrase into a question-like statement.

our greatest apprehension

Highlights the fear or anxiety related to the concern.

the most pressing issue for us

Emphasizes the urgency and importance of the concern.

our foremost consideration

Focuses on the act of thinking about and weighing the concern.

the key thing we are worried about

An informal alternative that emphasizes worry.

FAQs

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

You can use "our principal concern" to introduce the most important issue or worry in a given situation. For example, "Our principal concern is ensuring the safety of all employees."

What are some alternatives to "our principal concern"?

Alternatives include "our main concern", "our primary focus", or "our top priority", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "our principal concern"?

"Our principal concern" is appropriate in formal settings, professional communications, or when discussing serious matters. It conveys a sense of importance and urgency.

What's the difference between "our principal concern" and "our main concern"?

"Our principal concern" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the significance of the issue. "Our main concern" is a more general and less formal way to express a primary worry or focus.