the primary obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the primary obligation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the main responsibility or duty that someone has in a particular context. Example: "In this contract, the primary obligation of the contractor is to complete the work on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"It will be the primary obligation for my term," Clinton says, meaning the next five years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Describes the position of most women, for whom the primary obligation was beauty, the second money, with education last.

The New Yorker

Although the government has an obligation to prosecute the perpetrators of such crimes, experts say, companies have the primary obligation to protect themselves.

The New York Times

For the people who shop at Pomegranate, the collective covenant with God is the primary reality and obedience to the laws is the primary obligation.

The New York Times

The primary obligation is to prevent "the impairment of children's health or development", almost impossible in weeks of tedious confinement, fear and stress, which so many other countries avoid by using houses where people seeking asylum may stay.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Australian Medical Association's code of ethics requires doctors to refrain from countenancing, condoning or participating in the practice of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading procedures regardless of society's attitudes, and not to enter into contracts which conflict with personal integrity, clinical independence and the primary obligation to the patient.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It also emphasised its limited scope of jurisdiction, and the fact that, under church guidelines, the "primary obligations" of ensuring child protection and providing an "appropriate response" to clergy sex abuse lay with diocesan bishops in the area concerned.

The Guardian

After the youngest left home, she had 20 or so years, starting around age 50, in which she was free of the primary obligations that had defined female existence for thousands of years.

The New York Times - Books

This implies that SR involves two responsibilities: the primary responsibility being an obligation to society, and the secondary responsibility being a positive contribution to society.

Progress in Nuclear Energy

Failing to do so is to fail to fulfill this "primary obligation" of autonomy.

SEP

It's important not to get carried away with racking up patents at the expense of the university's primary obligation to disseminate new knowledge and technologies, says panel member David Korn, assistant provost for research at Harvard University.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “the primary obligation” when you want to emphasize which responsibility takes precedence over all others, setting a clear priority.

Common error

Avoid assuming "the primary obligation" implies it's the only obligation. There may be other secondary or supporting duties; "primary" simply denotes the most important one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the primary obligation" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the most important duty or responsibility in a given context. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the primary obligation" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the most important duty or responsibility in a given situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is readily usable in written English. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While interchangeable with phrases like ""the main duty"" or ""the chief responsibility"", it's crucial to define the holder and object of the obligation for clarity and avoid assuming it's the only obligation. Use it to emphasize priorities and set clear expectations in various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the main duty

Replaces "obligation" with "duty" to denote the main responsibility.

the chief responsibility

Substitutes "primary" with "chief" to emphasize the importance of the responsibility.

the principal responsibility

Uses "principal" instead of "primary", highlighting the main or most important responsibility.

the foremost responsibility

Replaces "primary" with "foremost", indicating the most important or leading responsibility.

the key duty

Emphasizes the importance by using "key" to describe the duty.

the overriding obligation

Indicates that the obligation takes precedence over other considerations.

the core duty

Highlights the essential nature of the duty.

the fundamental responsibility

Stresses the basic and essential nature of the responsibility.

the paramount duty

Indicates the supreme importance of the duty.

the leading responsibility

Highlights the position of leadership associated with the responsibility.

FAQs

What does "the primary obligation" mean?

The phrase "the primary obligation" refers to the most important duty or responsibility that someone has in a particular situation or role. It signifies the obligation that takes precedence over others.

How can I use "the primary obligation" in a sentence?

You can use "the primary obligation" to emphasize the main responsibility someone has. For example, "The doctor's "first responsibility" is to their patients' well-being."

What are some alternatives to "the primary obligation"?

Alternatives to "the primary obligation" include "the main duty", "the chief responsibility", or "the principal responsibility".

Is it correct to use "primary obligation" without the definite article "the"?

While grammatically possible in some contexts, using "the primary obligation" is generally preferred for clarity and emphasis, especially when referring to a specific, well-defined duty. Omitting "the" can make the phrase sound less formal and more general.