overriding focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overriding focus" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a main or primary focus or concern. It can be used in a variety of contexts, including in business, politics, and everyday conversations. Example: The company's overriding focus is on increasing profits, even if it means sacrificing employee benefits.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Policy should have one overriding focus.

The Guardian - Opinion

For Prime Minister Stephen Harper, obtaining a majority was the overriding focus of his campaign.

The New York Times

ills, notably an overriding focus by the old union leadership on their own jobs and benefits.

The New York Times

And you'll lose the overriding focus on preparing for, responding to and mitigating the consequences of disasters.

The New York Times

Mr. Phillipson's initial qualifier — that Smith left a scanty historical record — does not quite explain the book's overriding focus on its subject as a factory of philosophical ideas.

The New York Times

The central bank also maintains an overriding focus on inflation, aiming to keep wages and prices rising no more than about 2 percent a year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Professionals won't find manual controls for everything, but may appreciate the camera's spot metering (for heavily backlighted scenes), the built-in flash with variable intensity, manual overrides for focus and shutter speed, and the camera's unusually long focal length, which accommodates a 10X optical zoom (and contributes significantly to the camera's bulk and heft).

The New York Times - Tech

But our focus now isn't on overriding a veto; it's on getting as many votes in the House and Senate as we can".

The New York Times

Feingold focussed on the wiretapping because that is the one area where the Administration has admitted — indeed, boasted of — overriding a particular law.

The New Yorker

Hers was overriding.

The New York Times - Books

"overriding a doctor's recommendations".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overriding focus" to clearly indicate the most important aspect or goal within a complex situation. This ensures the reader understands the core element driving decisions or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "overriding focus" when describing trivial matters. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a significant, overarching concern, not a minor detail.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overriding focus" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object. It identifies the most important concern or aim, as seen in Ludwig's examples where it describes the central point of campaigns, policies, or training.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overriding focus" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that effectively highlights a primary concern or objective. Ludwig AI indicates its usage is prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, emphasizing its versatility across different registers. When using this phrase, ensure it truly represents the most significant aspect of the situation and is not used for trivial matters. Consider alternatives like "primary concern" or "main priority" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary concern

Focus is changed to concern, highlighting the importance of the matter.

main priority

Focus is replaced with priority, emphasizing the order of importance.

chief aim

Focus is switched to aim, indicating the goal or purpose.

dominant objective

Overriding is replaced by dominant, strengthening the idea of control or influence, while focus is changed to objective.

principal goal

Overriding is substituted with principal, indicating the main or most important goal.

central objective

Overriding is swapped with central, highlighting the core nature of the objective.

key focus

Overriding is simplified to key, indicating something of high importance.

major emphasis

Focus is replaced with emphasis, shifting the attention to the stress or importance placed on something.

core concern

Overriding is removed and focus is changed to concern, suggesting a fundamental worry.

prime directive

Focus is substituted with directive, indicating a guiding principle or instruction, and overriding is swapped with prime.

FAQs

How can I use "overriding focus" in a sentence?

You can use "overriding focus" to emphasize the primary concern or objective in a particular situation. For example: "The company's "overriding focus" is on sustainability."

What phrases are similar to "overriding focus"?

Similar phrases include "primary concern", "main priority", or "chief aim". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "primary focus" or "overriding focus"?

Both "primary focus" and ""overriding focus"" are correct, but "overriding focus" suggests a more dominant or compelling concern that takes precedence over other considerations.

When is it appropriate to use "overriding focus" in writing?

Use "overriding focus" when you want to emphasize that a particular goal, concern, or aspect is the most important and influential factor in a given situation. It implies that other considerations are secondary.