the foremost concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the foremost concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the most important issue or priority that should be dealt with first. For example, "Safety is the foremost concern when conducting any experiments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The scientific relationship of geomorphic and salmonid responses to restoration actions remains the foremost concern.

Journal of Environmental Management

Yes, the survey reports that jobs and the economy are the foremost concern for Hispanics.

The New Yorker

Developing the optimal VTS that satisfies with consumers' needs has become the foremost concern of automobile producers.

Expert Systems with Applications

A chance to play at all, against Brazil, against anyone, in any formation, is the foremost concern at the moment.

The New York Times - Sports

Previous studies show that the foremost concern for VAPEX application in naturally fractured reservoirs is the low non-economical production rates.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Previous studies show that the foremost concern for VAPEX application in the case of NFR is the low non-economical production rates.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The foremost concerns in applying topology optimization to bone remodeling include the difficulty of handling large-scale problems and associated huge computational cost.

Finite Elements in Analysis and Design

The revolving theater, while appearing to be a gimmick, actually solves the problem of circulation, one of the foremost concerns of the exhibition designer: how to keep people moving without losing their attention.

The New York Times - Arts

The most frequent consultation topics we encountered presumably reflect the foremost concerns of employees as they design and conduct clinical trials.

AJOB Empirical Bioethics

The Mets' foremost concern, at least at the time, appeared to be squarely on the sensibilities of the American Indian community.

The New York Times - Sports

The first and foremost concern is the stability of liposomes.

Nano-Micro Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the foremost concern" to clearly signal the highest priority, especially in contexts where multiple issues are being addressed. This helps maintain focus and guides decision-making.

Common error

Avoid labeling a secondary issue as "the foremost concern". This can mislead your audience and detract from the actual top priority. Always verify that the concern truly holds the highest level of importance before using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the foremost concern" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It identifies the most important issue or priority under consideration, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the foremost concern" is a common phrase used to highlight the most important issue or priority in a given situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various domains, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While the phrase is generally neutral, it tends to appear more frequently in formal and professional contexts. When using "the foremost concern", ensure it accurately reflects the single most important issue and avoid misidentifying secondary issues as foremost.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the primary worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", focusing on anxiety about something.

the main priority

Substitutes "concern" with "priority", highlighting what comes first.

the top priority

Replaces "foremost" with "top", emphasizing the ranking of importance.

the chief concern

Uses "chief" instead of "foremost" to denote the principal issue.

the biggest worry

Highlights the magnitude of the worry, rather than its order of importance.

the overriding concern

Indicates that the concern is dominant over all others.

the principal issue

Replaces "concern" with "issue", framing it as a problem to be addressed.

the key consideration

Focuses on something that needs careful thought, replacing concern with consideration.

the central focus

Shifts the emphasis to the main point of attention or effort.

the most pressing issue

Indicates urgency and immediate importance, replacing concern with issue.

FAQs

How do I use "the foremost concern" in a sentence?

Use "the foremost concern" to introduce the most important issue or priority in a given situation. For example, "The foremost concern is the safety of all personnel involved".

What can I say instead of "the foremost concern"?

You can use alternatives like "the main priority", "the top priority", or "the chief concern" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a foremost concern" instead of "the foremost concern"?

While "the foremost concern" indicates the single most important issue, "a foremost concern" suggests one of several top priorities. The choice depends on whether you are highlighting the single most important issue or one among several equally important issues.

What's the difference between "the foremost concern" and "a major concern"?

"The foremost concern" denotes the highest priority, while "a major concern" simply indicates a significant issue. "The foremost concern" carries more weight and implies greater urgency or importance.