the primary concern was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the primary concern was' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to draw attention to the main issue or focus of a discussion. For example, "The primary concern was finding a solution to the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Back then, the primary concern was hospital costs.

The New York Times

A Punk Ziegel & Company analyst, Richard Bove, said the primary concern was Bear's being forced to build a new business model.

The New York Times

When Revis ended his 36-day holdout and signed a $32 million guaranteed contract, the primary concern was how he would get back into football shape.

The New York Times - Sports

With infrequent flights and virtually no carriage of passengers, the primary concern was for the integrity of the aircraft and the management of safe takeoffs and landings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Rev. Thomas Weinandy, executive director of the bishops' Secretariat for Doctrine, said, "The primary concern was not over feminism or nonfeminism.

The New York Times

Kathy Winters, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration weather officer for the mission, said the primary concern was thunderstorms or showers within 20 miles of the Kennedy Space Center.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The primary concern is fitness.

The New York Times

The primary concern is premium-class passenger traffic, which fell 9.2percentt in October.

The New York Times

The primary concern is the safety of Bahraini citizens, spectators, teams, drivers and all those involved in the F1 race.

The Guardian - Sport

For most students, the primary concern is tracking down classmates, Ms. Stein said.

The New York Times

But Hannah Paterson, NUS Disabled Students Officerr, says the "primary concern" is that very few of the students experiencing distress speak about their problem.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the primary concern was", ensure that the context clearly establishes whose concern is being referenced. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "the primary concern was" without clearly indicating who held that concern. This can lead to confusion about whose perspective is being presented.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the primary concern was" functions as a sentence opener or clause connector, introducing the main worry, problem, or focus in a narrative or discussion. This expression sets the stage by highlighting the most important issue at hand, in a similar fashion of Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the primary concern was" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to highlight the main issue or focus in a past context. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and serves to emphasize the most significant worry or priority at a given time. It appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, lending itself to both neutral and professional registers. When using this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the subject of concern is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "the main worry was" and "the chief concern was" can offer slight variations in emphasis, while maintaining similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the main worry was

Replaces "primary concern" with "main worry", emphasizing the element of anxiety or apprehension.

the chief concern was

Substitutes "primary" with "chief", highlighting the top-level importance of the concern.

the major issue was

Replaces "concern" with "issue", focusing on a specific point of contention or problem.

the principal issue was

Uses "principal" instead of "primary", indicating the most important or fundamental issue.

the central focus was

Shifts from a concern to a "central focus", emphasizing the main point of attention.

the key priority was

Replaces "concern" with "priority", stressing what was most important to address.

the overriding issue was

Replaces primary with overriding to emphasizes on an issue that is more important than other considerations.

the predominant worry was

Use "predominant worry" to highlight how anxiety take precedence over others.

what mattered most was

Emphasizes what held the greatest importance in the specific context.

the most pressing need was

Focuses on urgent requirements instead of a general concern.

FAQs

What does "the primary concern was" mean?

It indicates the most important or pressing issue that someone was thinking about or dealing with at a particular time.

How can I use "the primary concern was" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce the main issue or worry in a past situation. For example, "When planning the event, "the primary concern was" the safety of all attendees."

What can I say instead of "the primary concern was"?

You can use alternatives like "the main worry was", "the chief concern was", or "the major issue was" depending on the specific context.

Is it okay to use "the primary concern is" instead of "the primary concern was"?

Yes, "the primary concern is" is used to talk about the current, or present, most important issue. "The primary concern was" refers to the main issue in the past.