prime quality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prime quality" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is of the highest standard or superior quality. For example, "The restaurant is known for its prime quality ingredients." Alternative expressions include "top quality," "high quality," and "superior quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Steinbeck wrote it in 1950, after his years of prime quality writing.

The New York Times

Gruff one said he had a box of 50, Prime quality.

The New Yorker

His restaurant, like Peter Luger, sells U.S. prime quality, dry-aged beef.

The New York Times

All this overlooks the fact that Carroll's CV hints that she brings the prime quality Anglo needs - an ability to run a lean operation.

The Guardian - Business

"Wine Winners" is not a comprehensive overview of prime quality, for not all producers enter competitions, and some venture into only a few.

The New York Times

"So the prime quality we will need in a new Labour leader is fitness to hold the office of Prime Minister.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

It continued: "However tactical the move, its parochialism hardly squares with the wider challenges Britain confronts: defending Britain's interests in Europe and beyond is a task that has just become much more difficult; it will require no small degree of precision, steadfastness and reliability, none of which anyone has ever had reason to suppose are among Mr Johnson's prime qualities".

The Guardian

In the early sixties, Keaton was still working, but his heyday was long since over — and that past-his-prime quality resonates deeply in "Film".

The New Yorker

But based on our current record of zero defaults and zero 30+ day delinquencies and the ultra-prime quality of our borrowers, the underlying stability of returns is what has attracted investors to our platform.

Huffington Post

"This is the tale of two companies," said Robert Khuzami, enforcement director at the S.E.C. "Countrywide portrayed itself as underwriting mainly prime-quality mortgages, using high underwriting standards.

The New York Times

If you're in the mood for a slice of prime-quality daftness, served exquisitely by a cast of 10, then Goldoni's comedy of mistaken identity is surely worth watching on repeat.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In literary or philosophical contexts, use the phrase to identify the most essential or 'chief' characteristic of a subject, such as 'the prime quality of a leader'.

Common error

Avoid using "prime quality" when you simply mean 'good'. The word 'prime' suggests a specific level of superiority or a fundamental nature. Also, be careful not to confuse it with 'prime-time quality', which specifically refers to television production standards.

Linguistic Context

In English grammar, "prime quality" functions as a noun phrase where 'prime' acts as an attributive adjective modifying the noun 'quality'. According to Ludwig, it often appears in predicative positions or as part of a larger noun phrase. The Ludwig AI confirms its high validity in both literal and figurative senses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prime quality" is a robust and sophisticated expression in the English language. Through the analysis provided by Ludwig, we can see that it serves two distinct but related roles: it acts as a marker for the highest tier of merit (especially in food, finance and materials) and as a descriptor for a defining trait in literary or social contexts. With a high expert rating and consistent usage in top-tier publications, it is a reliable choice for writers seeking to convey either superiority or essentiality. Whether you are discussing the ""prime quality"" of a specific cut of meat or the ""prime quality"" of a political leader, the phrase maintains its weight and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

top quality

is a more standard, everyday synonym for excellence

premium quality

emphasizes a commercial or luxury status

superior quality

carries a more formal and comparative tone

highest quality

acts as a superlative, leaving no room for higher tiers

finest quality

suggests elegance and careful selection

excellent quality

provides a general positive assessment without the 'prime' branding

first-rate quality

adds a slightly more idiomatic or British nuance to the description

exceptional quality

highlights that the subject stands out from the norm

prime attribute

replaces quality when the meaning is 'chief characteristic' rather than 'excellence'

prime grade

is specifically used in industrial or food contexts like meat grading

FAQs

How do I use "prime quality" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a high-grade product, such as: "The chef insisted on using only "prime quality" beef for the steak.", or to describe an essential trait: "Integrity is the "prime quality" we look for in employees."

What can I say instead of "prime quality"?

Depending on the context, you can use "top quality", "premium quality" or "principal characteristic".

Is "prime quality" better than "high quality"?

"high quality" is a general term, whereas "prime quality" often implies the absolute best tier or a specific industry grade (like U.S. Prime beef).

Is "prime quality" formal enough for a research paper?

Yes, "prime quality" is frequently found in scientific literature to describe subjects or materials, such as in the phrase "prime quality individuals" in biological studies.