to be of primary concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to be of primary concern' is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate that something is very important and should be given attention before other matters. For example, "Safety must be of primary concern when installing new machinery."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"That is going to be of primary concern to the farmers".

The New York Times

While great improvements have been made, mortality related to congenital cardiac lesions continues to be of primary concern.

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual

Furthermore, barriers related to a lack of integration into daily practice seem to be of primary concern, suggesting that increasing the system's flexibility and learning capacity in order to be able to adapt the decision support to meet the varying needs of different users should be the main target of CDSS interventions.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Since the kernel is the key element in the SPH methodology, this should be of primary concern to any user of SPH.

Journal of Computational Physics

In devising a policy and practice strategy to address the projected increase in the reentry population, leadership within communities for social and supportive services to ex-prisoners, specifically treatment services should be of primary concern.

Health & Justice

Any potential downgrade would be of primary concern for localities that are planning to finance public-works projects.

The Washington Post

Infection is a major issue in surgery, and should be of primary concern when engineering biomaterials.

Materials Science and Engineering: C

Thus in vibration analysis of a plane frame, the out-of-plane vibration should be of primary concern in practice.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Pathogen removal has very rarely been considered as an objective but for reuse of effluents in agriculture, this must be of primary concern.

Applied Water Science

Removing the source of lead should be of primary concern, but nutrition is important, too.

HuffPost

Since the bank had been found to be of "primary money-laundering concern," the Treasury Department could turn it into an international pariah by forbidding American financial institutions to deal with it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing. If the context requires a more urgent feel, then consider replacing "to be of primary concern" with phrases like "demands immediate attention".

Common error

Avoid using "to be of primary concern" in overly simple or obvious statements. Instead of saying, "Safety is to be of primary concern", consider a more direct statement such as, "Prioritize safety."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be of primary concern" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It emphasizes that a particular issue, situation, or factor holds significant importance and should be given precedence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to be of primary concern" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the importance of a particular issue. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and suitable for written English. It's most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, signaling a neutral to formal register. When using the phrase, remember to clearly specify whose concern it is. Alternatives like "is paramount" or "is of utmost importance" can provide a similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis. Avoid overuse in simple statements to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is of utmost importance

Replaces "primary concern" with a more emphatic expression of importance.

is paramount

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective emphasizing the highest level of importance.

is critically important

Emphasizes the critical nature of the subject, suggesting serious consequences if ignored.

is a key priority

Shifts the focus to prioritization, highlighting the need for immediate attention.

is the top priority

Synonymous with "key priority" but can imply a formal ranking of importance.

demands immediate attention

Emphasizes urgency, suggesting the issue requires prompt action.

is the main focus

Indicates that efforts and resources should be primarily directed towards this issue.

is a major worry

Highlights the aspect of concern or anxiety associated with the issue.

is a central issue

Highlights that something is a fundamental matter that needs to be addressed.

warrants serious consideration

Indicates the need for careful thought and assessment of the subject.

FAQs

How can I use "to be of primary concern" in a sentence?

You can use "to be of primary concern" to highlight something that is very important or needs immediate attention. For example, "The patient's breathing difficulties are "to be of primary concern"."

What phrases are similar to "to be of primary concern"?

Similar phrases include "is paramount", "is of utmost importance", or "is a key priority". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "of primary concern" or "of utmost concern"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "of utmost concern" expresses a slightly higher degree of importance than "of primary concern". Choose the phrase that best matches the gravity of the situation.

Can "to be of primary concern" be used in formal and informal writing?

"To be of primary concern" is suitable for both formal and neutral writing. However, in very informal contexts, a simpler phrase might be more appropriate.