prioritising

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "prioritising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to the act of assigning importance to certain tasks over others. For example, "My boss asked me to start prioritising my workload to ensure that our deadlines are met."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

The Cabinet Office proudly announced last year that What Works was a world first: "it's the first time any government has taken a national approach to prioritising the use of evidence in decision-making".

The Guardian - Opinion

Dariusz Bogal Appliance of knowledge One family said they've always chosen appliances based on their appearance and how they fit in with their household decor, but now they will also be prioritising the energy ratings when making purchasing decisions.

The Guardian

In a speech to a Thatcherite thinktank, Tony Blair's former chief of staff and military favourite argued the case for "ruthlessly prioritising" the MoD's £37bn budget when the next government makes unavoidable cuts of up to 15%.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, if governments in developing countries are not prioritising disability issues, neither is the international community.

The Guardian

"Prioritising the middle tier of management is quite new to senior leaders," says Coiffait.

The Guardian

While no one is arguing against prioritising the nutrition of young children and mothers, neglecting adolescent girls doesn't just effect them but has long-term implications.

The Guardian

He also accused him of prioritising the announcement of northern states, which are Buhari strongholds.

The Guardian

There are so many things to do and prioritising what we need to get done first is difficult.

The Guardian

"That's why we are prioritising this project and are dedicated to ensuring it progresses in a transparent and environmentally responsible manner," he said.

The Guardian

We need much more information from Google about how it is prioritising complaints, as well as how its internal decision-makers are trained and what principles they are applying".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about resource allocation, clarify the criteria used for "prioritising" to avoid ambiguity. Mention the specific factors influencing your decisions.

Common error

Avoid vague statements about "prioritising" without specifying what is being prioritised and why. Provide context and justification for your choices.

Linguistic Context

The term "prioritising" functions as a present participle or gerund, acting as a verb form that describes an ongoing action or process. It often modifies nouns or serves as the verb within a clause, as evidenced by Ludwig, indicating its role in active decision-making and resource management.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prioritising" is a verb form, functioning as a present participle or gerund, that denotes the action of assigning importance or precedence to certain tasks or items. As affirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable, particularly in professional, news, and academic settings. Key usage tips include clarifying prioritisation criteria and avoiding vague generalisations. While alternatives like "setting priorities" and "giving precedence to" exist, "prioritising" effectively conveys strategic resource allocation across various contexts. Its frequent occurrence in reliable sources underscores its importance and relevance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

setting priorities

Focuses on the establishment of a hierarchy of importance.

ranking in order of importance

Highlights the process of ordering items based on their significance.

giving precedence to

Emphasizes the act of allowing something to come before others.

placing emphasis on

Highlights the act of stressing the importance of something.

focusing primarily on

Indicates a main concentration on a specific item or task.

accentuating the importance of

Stresses the significance and value of something.

highlighting as crucial

Indicates the identification of something as essential.

valuing above all else

Emphasizes the superior worth given to something.

chiefly regarding

Implies that something is considered the most important.

singling out as paramount

Highlights the act of choosing something as supremely important.

FAQs

How to use "prioritising" in a sentence?

You can use "prioritising" to describe the act of giving importance to something. For example, "The company is "prioritising customer satisfaction" above all else."

What can I say instead of "prioritising"?

You can use alternatives like "setting priorities", "giving precedence to", or "placing emphasis on" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "prioritising" or "prioritizing"?

"Prioritising" is the British English spelling, while "prioritizing" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but ensure you use the spelling consistent with your audience.

What's the difference between "prioritising" and "saving"?

"Prioritising" involves ordering tasks or items by importance, while "saving" refers to preserving or storing something, often resources or money.