what is paramount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what is paramount" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is of utmost importance or significance in a particular context. Example: "In this project, what is paramount is ensuring the safety of all participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Egypt is voting this is what is paramount.

The Economist

And what is paramount to Mr. Pundole in terms of how he rates a hotel?

The New York Times

What is paramount is the players' talents, what Wenger calls their quality.

The New York Times - Sports

"As people get older, they get more selective about what is paramount," said Mrs. Barrows, 70.

The New York Times

While the production and setting are impressive, perhaps what is paramount is that Beijing has offered its support.

The New York Times - Arts

Debbie Jevans, LOCOG director of sport, said: "What is paramount is the integrity of the sport and the atmosphere that naturally surrounds it.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"That's what's paramount in this film".

The New York Times - Arts

What was paramount for the Bush administration, however, was the outcome -- the disarmament of Iraq, by whatever means necessary.

The New York Times - Magazine

What was paramount for Valdes -- and for the Security Council as a whole -- was the preservation of the process of debate and decision.

The New York Times - Magazine

"For us, what was paramount was the authority of the newborn International Criminal Court, and it seems to us that the result which we just adopted is absolutely in line with the Statute of Rome," said Jean-David Levitte, the French representative.

The New York Times

What is of paramount importance is to prevent the division of Libya and stop it becoming another Somalia".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what is paramount", ensure the context clearly establishes why the identified element holds the highest importance. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "what is paramount" for matters of moderate or minor importance. Reserve it for situations where the identified element is genuinely the most critical factor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what is paramount" functions as a subject complement, identifying and emphasizing the most important aspect or element within a given context. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what is paramount" is a phrase used to underscore the element of highest importance within a particular situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and can be found across diverse fields such as news, business, and science. While it shares similarities with phrases like "what is most important" and "what matters most", it carries a stronger emphasis on ultimate priority. When employing this expression, ensure that its application aligns with genuine criticality to avoid dilution of its impact. The phrase is common and useful in formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is most important

Replaces "paramount" with the more common phrase "most important", simplifying the language.

what matters most

Shifts the focus to what holds the greatest significance, using more concise phrasing.

what is of utmost importance

Emphasizes the extreme significance using "utmost importance", adding formality.

what takes precedence

Focuses on the idea of something having higher priority or coming before other things.

what is crucial

Replaces "paramount" with "crucial", indicating something essential.

what is essential

Similar to "crucial", this highlights the necessity of something.

the most vital thing is

Rephrases the query to emphasize the vitality or necessity of something.

the primary concern is

Highlights the main area of worry or focus.

the key priority is

Emphasizes that something is a top goal or objective.

the overriding factor is

Highlights the dominant influence on a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "what is paramount" in a sentence?

Use "what is paramount" to emphasize the most important aspect of a situation. For example, "In this negotiation, "what is paramount" is maintaining a positive relationship".

What are some alternatives to "what is paramount"?

You can use alternatives such as "what is most important", "what matters most", or "what is crucial" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "what is paramount" or "what's paramount"?

Both "what is paramount" and "what's paramount" are grammatically correct and acceptable. The contracted form, "what's paramount", is slightly more informal but is perfectly suitable for most situations.

What's the difference between "what is paramount" and "what is important"?

"What is paramount" implies the highest level of importance, suggesting that something is above all else, while "what is important" simply indicates that something holds significance but may not be the absolute top priority.