to give priority

USAGE SUMMARY

'to give priority' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to discuss something that deserves to be given priority or focus over something else. For example, "We need to give priority to developing a new software program for customer service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But to give priority to so many problems is to give priority to none.

The New York Times

Instructors also tend to give priority to students attending class.

University of California, Berkeley

"A manager tends to give priority to those who ask.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The implication behind this is to give priority to handoff calls.

Computer Communications

North Korea is believed to give priority to those considered loyal to its government.

The New York Times

We urge President Medvedev and President Obama to give priority to supporting and leading this effort.

The New York Times

Traffic control also can be used to give priority to high-occupancy passenger modes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They were so busy, they said, those were the people they had to give priority to.

The New York Times

Maybe we need to give priority to vocational training and job-related programmes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many secondary schools plan to give priority to year groups sitting exams.

The Guardian

They also tend to give priority to programming rather than people, so they are frequently understaffed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to give priority" when you want to indicate that something should be dealt with before other things due to its importance.

Common error

Avoid using "to give priority" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear. Instead of saying 'Priority should be given', specify who is giving the priority: 'The team should "to give priority" to customer feedback'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to give priority" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of assigning greater importance or attention to something. It is often used to direct resources or focus efforts on a specific task, goal, or issue. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to give priority" is a versatile and widely used expression that signifies the act of assigning greater importance or attention to something. As Ludwig AI states, it’s a correct and usable phrase across various contexts. Its function is to guide actions and resources, emphasizing what should be addressed first. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and academic domains, reflecting its neutral to professional register. To enhance clarity, clearly state what you are prioritizing and the reasoning behind it. Common alternatives include "to prioritize" and "to give precedence". When writing, make sure to use active voice instead of passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prioritize

Simplifies the phrase to a single verb, making it more concise.

to put first

A more direct and simple way of saying to prioritize.

to give precedence

Emphasizes the order or rank in which something is considered.

to place emphasis

Highlights the act of stressing importance, not necessarily in a sequential order.

to stress the importance

Directly states that something is important, influencing its priority.

to attach importance

Focuses on the significance assigned to something.

to value highly

Focuses on the level of importance assigned.

to highlight

Suggests bringing something to the forefront or making it more noticeable.

to favor

Implies a preference or bias towards something.

to concentrate efforts

Focuses on dedicating resources and energy to a specific task or goal.

FAQs

How can I use "to give priority" in a sentence?

You can use "to give priority" to indicate that something should be treated as more important than something else. For example, "The company decided "to give priority" to customer satisfaction".

What are some alternatives to saying "to give priority"?

Some alternatives include "to prioritize", "to give precedence", and "to place emphasis".

Is it better to say "give priority to" or "prioritize"?

Both "give priority to" and "prioritize" are correct, but "prioritize" is more concise. The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and the context of your writing.

When should I use "to give priority" instead of "to focus on"?

"To give priority" suggests a ranking of importance, while "to focus on" simply means to concentrate on something. Use "to give priority" when you need to emphasize that something is more important than other things.