primary occupation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primary occupation" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to the main job or profession that a person has. It can be used in any context where you want to specify someone's main source of income or the primary role they play in their career. Example: "John's primary occupation is a lawyer, but he also teaches part-time at a local university."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What's the primary occupation of the dead?

The New York Times - Arts

More Americans identify their primary occupation as artist than as lawyer, doctor, police officer or farm worker.

The New York Times

IN this burgeoning antiques center in Columbia County, home renovation seems to be the primary occupation of most residents.

The New York Times - Style

But for one man, what began as a pastime ultimately became a passion and a primary occupation.

The New York Times - Travel

Shirtless and in yoga pants, he displayed the chiseled muscles of someone for whom working out is a primary occupation.

The New York Times - Magazine

But that vanishes as the book moves forward, and charting the sensorium of Harlem's ghosts becomes her primary occupation.

The New York Times - Books

The dominant settlement pattern in Thailand remains the rural village, where the primary occupation is wet-rice cultivation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Lynch's expertise on the subject of mortality derives from his primary occupation as a third-generation funeral director in a small town in central Michigan.

The New York Times - Arts

Though he published an excellent autobiography, a novella, and a cookbook, he hailed from a time when rappers considered their primary occupation to be rapping.

The New Yorker

The move came as a surprise, particularly since it came just a month after he had sold Instapaper, still his primary occupation, to app incubator Betaworks.

The Guardian - Tech

Doillon, daughter of Jane Birkin, is of course saddled with all the goodwill afforded to celebrity offspring whose primary occupation is listed as "muse".

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's "primary occupation", be specific and clear about the actual job title or role. Avoid vague terms like "consultant" without further clarification.

Common error

Ensure you're accurately identifying the main source of income or activity. Don't mistake a side job or hobby for the "primary occupation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary occupation" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a subject complement or an object within a sentence. It identifies the main job or profession of an individual. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Unknown/unmatched sources

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "primary occupation" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to describe an individual's main job or profession. Ludwig AI validates its common usage across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and specificity to avoid confusion with secondary roles. Alternatives such as "main profession" or "principal job" can be used to add variety to your writing. Remember that accurately identifying the main source of income or activity is essential to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main profession

Replaces "primary" with "main", emphasizing the principal profession.

principal job

Uses "principal" and "job" to convey the core employment.

chief employment

Substitutes "primary" with "chief" and "occupation" with "employment".

leading vocation

Emphasizes the vocational aspect with "leading" replacing "primary".

major line of work

Rephrases the idea to focus on the "line of work" being the most significant.

career focus

Highlights the main area of career concentration.

professional field

Identifies the professional area as the primary one.

primary source of income

Focuses on the financial aspect of the occupation.

main area of expertise

Shifts the focus to the area where someone has the most expertise.

core business activity

Describes the primary occupation in terms of a business activity.

FAQs

How can I use "primary occupation" in a sentence?

You can use "primary occupation" to describe someone's main job or profession, such as, "Her "primary occupation" is teaching, but she also writes novels in her spare time."

What is a synonym for "primary occupation"?

Synonyms for "primary occupation" include "main profession", "principal job", or "chief employment".

Is it correct to use "primary occupation" when someone has multiple jobs?

Yes, you can use "primary occupation" to refer to the job that provides the most income or takes up the most time, even if the person has other jobs.

What's the difference between "primary occupation" and "secondary occupation"?

"Primary occupation" refers to the main job or profession, while "secondary occupation" refers to a supplemental job or source of income.