the chief concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the chief concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the primary or most important issue or worry in a given context. Example: "The chief concern of the committee was ensuring the safety of all participants during the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indonesia is the chief concern.

The Economist

Its obscenity is the chief concern for its harshest critics.

The New York Times - Sports

But the chief concern for now remains obtaining clean water.

The Guardian

But saving its farm economy is the chief concern.

The New York Times

The chief concern centres round its target market.

The Guardian

The chief concern was not anonymous advertising money, but the actual buying of votes.

The New York Times

American policymakers still judge North Korea's presumed manufacture of nuclear bombs to be the chief concern.

The Economist

The chief concern is the mismatch between the duration of banks' liabilities and their assets.

The Economist

Pot is not exactly the chief concern of the nightlife police.

The New Yorker

As on the mainland, the chief concern is the high price of property.

The New York Times

The cold seemed to be the chief concern, even to those packed close behind police barricades.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the chief concern", ensure the context clearly establishes what other secondary concerns might exist, to emphasize the primary nature of the stated concern.

Common error

Avoid using "the chief concern" when the issue is already self-evident as the only concern. It can come across as redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the chief concern" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject complement or an appositive. It identifies the most significant issue or worry. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to highlight the primary focus in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the chief concern" is a versatile and widely used phrase that serves to highlight the most important issue at hand. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and applicable across numerous contexts. Its frequency is high, particularly in news, scientific, and formal settings. Remember to use it judiciously, ensuring that the context warrants emphasizing a single, primary concern over others. Be precise and ensure this is indeed the most important matter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the main worry

Replaces 'chief concern' with 'main worry', focusing on anxiety or unease.

the primary issue

Substitutes 'chief concern' with 'primary issue', highlighting the most important problem.

the biggest problem

Replaces 'chief concern' with 'biggest problem', emphasizing the magnitude of the issue.

the top priority

Substitutes 'chief concern' with 'top priority', focusing on what needs the most urgent attention.

the central matter

Replaces 'chief concern' with 'central matter', indicating the core subject under consideration.

the principal focus

Substitutes 'chief concern' with 'principal focus', emphasizing the main point of attention.

the leading anxiety

Replaces 'chief concern' with 'leading anxiety', specifically highlighting the main source of worry.

the overriding consideration

Substitutes 'chief concern' with 'overriding consideration', underlining the factor that takes precedence.

the foremost apprehension

Replaces 'chief concern' with 'foremost apprehension', highlighting the primary fear or worry.

the major preoccupation

Substitutes 'chief concern' with 'major preoccupation', focusing on what someone thinks about most.

FAQs

How can I use "the chief concern" in a sentence?

You can use "the chief concern" to introduce the most important issue or worry in a given situation. For example, "The chief concern is funding." or "The chief concern was safety".

What are some alternatives to "the chief concern"?

Some alternatives include "the main worry", "the primary issue", or "the top priority", depending on the context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "the chief concern"?

While grammatically correct, using "the chief concern" might be redundant if there's only one obvious concern. In such cases, a simpler phrasing might be more effective.

What is the difference between "the chief concern" and "a concern"?

"The chief concern" refers to the main or most important issue, while "a concern" simply indicates one of many possible worries or issues.