In 15 Seconds
- Professional way to highlight a key factor or detail.
- Commonly used in academic writing and business meetings.
- Signals deep analysis and strategic thinking to the listener.
- Best followed by a noun or a 'that' clause.
Meaning
This phrase is a sophisticated way to introduce a vital factor that must be weighed during a decision-making process. It acts like a highlighter for your thoughts, signaling to your audience that what follows is a priority they shouldn't ignore. Think of it as the 'professional' version of saying 'don't forget about this part.'
Key Examples
3 of 10Job interview on Zoom
An important consideration is the company's approach to professional development.
An important consideration is the company's approach to professional development.
Texting about a new apartment
It looks nice, but an important consideration is the commute to work.
It looks nice, but an important consideration is the commute to work.
Academic essay about climate change
An important consideration is the impact of rising sea levels on coastal infrastructure.
An important consideration is the impact of rising sea levels on coastal infrastructure.
Cultural Background
In US business culture, 'considerations' are often synonymous with 'bottom-line' factors like cost, efficiency, and speed. In Japan, 'consideration' (omoiyari) often refers to being thoughtful of others' feelings, but in business (kentō), it refers to deep, slow analysis. The British often use this phrase as a polite way to introduce a disagreement or a 'but.' German speakers value thoroughness (Gründlichkeit), so an 'important consideration' is expected to be backed by data or logic.
Use it to slow down
In a fast-paced meeting, using this long phrase gives you a few seconds to think about what you're going to say next while sounding very professional.
Don't over-highlight
If you use this phrase more than twice in a short email, it loses its power. Save it for your most critical point.
In 15 Seconds
- Professional way to highlight a key factor or detail.
- Commonly used in academic writing and business meetings.
- Signals deep analysis and strategic thinking to the listener.
- Best followed by a noun or a 'that' clause.
What It Means
You are staring at a blank Google Doc, trying to sound like a genius for your final thesis or that high-stakes project proposal. You need to transition from a general discussion to a specific, crucial point. That is where An important consideration is steps in. It is a structural lighthouse. It tells your reader, "Stop for a second; this specific detail carries a lot of weight." While it literally means "one thing to think about is," the emotional vibe is much more authoritative. It suggests you have analyzed the situation deeply and are now presenting a key finding. It carries a sense of objectivity and professional distance. You aren't just giving an opinion; you are presenting a 'consideration' that exists in the logic of the situation. It’s like wearing a virtual suit while you speak.
How To Use It
Grammatically, this phrase is quite sturdy. You usually follow the word is with a noun phrase or a that clause. For example, you might say, An important consideration is the battery life. Here, the subject is the whole phrase, and the noun phrase the battery life is what the listener needs to focus on. Alternatively, you can use a clause: An important consideration is that we have limited time. Notice how the word An implies there might be other things to think about, but you are choosing to highlight this one right now. If you say The important consideration, it sounds like there is only one, which can be a bit too aggressive in an essay. Keep it humble with An. It’s like saying, "Here is a nugget of wisdom I found," rather than "Here is the only truth that matters."
Formality & Register
This phrase lives and breathes in the world of C1-level English—professional, academic, and serious. You will find it in Harvard Business Review articles, technical documentation, and during board meetings. It is definitely not something you would use while texting your friend about which pizza topping to get. If you said, "An important consideration is the distribution of pepperoni," your friend might think you have been replaced by an AI bot. Use it when the stakes are high. It works beautifully in job interviews when you want to show you are a strategic thinker. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a firm handshake and a well-tailored blazer. It signals that you are operating in a 'formal' or 'very formal' register.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine you are a tech reviewer on YouTube. You’ve talked about a new smartphone’s camera and screen. You might say, An important consideration is the long-term software support. This warns your viewers about something that isn't immediately visible. Or, consider a LinkedIn post about remote work: An important consideration is the impact on team culture. In these modern contexts, the phrase helps you pivot from easy-to-see features to deeper, more complex issues. You’ll also see it in the 'Terms and Conditions' of apps like Netflix or Spotify, though let's be honest, we usually just scroll past those. In a Zoom meeting, using this phrase helps you interrupt politely. Instead of saying "Wait!", you say, An important consideration is... and suddenly everyone is listening because you sound so incredibly prepared.
When To Use It
Use this phrase when you are building an argument or a plan. It is perfect for the middle of a paragraph in an essay. It’s also great for professional emails where you need to point out a potential problem without sounding like a 'Negative Nancy.' By framing a problem as a 'consideration,' you make it sound like a logical puzzle to be solved rather than a disaster. Use it during negotiations to bring up costs or risks. It’s also very handy when you are comparing two things, like two different job offers or two different cars. It allows you to isolate one specific feature (like the commute or the insurance cost) and hold it up for inspection. It’s a tool for precision.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase in casual, high-emotion situations. If your partner asks why you forgot their birthday, do NOT say, An important consideration is that my calendar didn't sync. That is a one-way ticket to the doghouse. It sounds cold and clinical. Also, avoid using it repetitively. If every sentence starts with An important consideration is, your writing will feel heavy and robotic. It’s a spice, not the main course. Don’t use it for trivial things either. An important consideration is the color of my socks makes you sound like you have a very strange sense of priority. Keep it for the big stuff—budgets, deadlines, health, and career moves.
Common Mistakes
One of the most frequent slip-ups is subject-verb agreement. People often list several things and forget that the subject consideration is singular.
Another mistake is using the wrong article.
Because important starts with a vowel sound, we must use an. Some people also try to make it too wordy:
Redundancy is the enemy of professional English. You don't need to 'consider' a 'consideration.' That's like saying you're going to 'eat an edible meal.' We get it, just say the point!
Common Variations
If you find yourself using this phrase too much, you can swap it for A key factor is or A major concern is. If you want to be slightly less formal, try One thing to keep in mind is. In British English, you might occasionally hear A significant point to note is, while Americans might lean towards A primary driver is in business contexts. If the consideration is a negative one, you could use A potential drawback is. If it’s the most important thing of all, you can upgrade to The most crucial consideration is. There’s also the shortened version: Of course, a major consideration is... adding that of course makes you sound even more confident, as if everyone already knows what you’re about to say (even if they don't).
Real Conversations
Manager
Employee
Manager
an important consideration is how we will maintain client coverage on Fridays.Student A: I’m going to apply for that internship in London.
Student B: It’s a great opportunity, but an important consideration is the cost of living there. It's expensive!
Tech Reviewer: The laptop is fast and beautiful. However, an important consideration is the lack of ports. You'll need to buy a lot of dongles.
Quick FAQ
Is this the same as "A big problem is"? Not exactly. A 'consideration' can be positive or negative. A 'problem' is always bad. Using 'consideration' sounds more analytical and less like you're complaining.
Can I use it at the start of a sentence? Yes, that is where it usually lives! It’s a sentence starter that sets the stage for a new idea.
Is it okay for IELTS or TOEFL? Absolutely. It’s a 'band 7+' phrase because it shows you can handle formal transition signals and complex sentence structures. Just don't overdo it!
Is it too formal for an email to a colleague? If you've worked with them for five years, maybe. If it’s a project-wide update, it’s perfect.
Usage Notes
This is a C1-level academic transition. Use it to introduce a specific, weighted factor in a discussion. Be careful with subject-verb agreement—always use 'is' with the singular 'consideration'.
Use it to slow down
In a fast-paced meeting, using this long phrase gives you a few seconds to think about what you're going to say next while sounding very professional.
Don't over-highlight
If you use this phrase more than twice in a short email, it loses its power. Save it for your most critical point.
Examples
10An important consideration is the company's approach to professional development.
An important consideration is the company's approach to professional development.
Shows the candidate is thinking about long-term growth.
It looks nice, but an important consideration is the commute to work.
It looks nice, but an important consideration is the commute to work.
Elevates a casual conversation to a more serious discussion.
An important consideration is the impact of rising sea levels on coastal infrastructure.
An important consideration is the impact of rising sea levels on coastal infrastructure.
Typical usage in a high-level academic argument.
When planning a trip to Iceland, an important consideration is the unpredictable weather! 🇮🇸
When planning a trip to Iceland, an important consideration is the unpredictable weather!
Uses formal language to give helpful advice to followers.
✗ An important consideration are the budget constraints. → ✓ An important consideration is the budget constraints.
✗ An important consideration are the budget constraints. → ✓ An important consideration is the budget constraints.
Always use 'is' because 'consideration' is singular, regardless of what follows.
✗ A important consideration is the timeline. → ✓ An important consideration is the timeline.
✗ A important consideration is the timeline. → ✓ An important consideration is the timeline.
Use 'an' because 'important' starts with a vowel sound.
An important consideration is whether the office coffee is actually drinkable today.
An important consideration is whether the office coffee is actually drinkable today.
Using a very formal phrase for a silly topic creates humor.
An important consideration is my cat's quality of life during the treatment.
An important consideration is my cat's quality of life during the treatment.
Brings focus to a deeply emotional and serious point.
An important consideration is the user acquisition cost in the first quarter.
An important consideration is the user acquisition cost in the first quarter.
Classic business usage for financial planning.
The food was great, but an important consideration is the lack of parking in the area.
The food was great, but an important consideration is the lack of parking in the area.
Helps others make a decision based on a specific factor.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
When choosing a university, ________ the quality of the faculty.
We need the full phrase with the article 'an' and the singular verb 'is.'
Which sentence uses the phrase in the most appropriate register?
Select the best option:
This phrase is best suited for formal business or academic contexts.
Fill in the missing line in the professional dialogue.
Manager: 'We need to decide which vendor to hire.' Employee: '________ their reputation for customer service.'
In a professional setting, 'An important consideration is' provides the right level of formality.
Match the 'consideration' to the correct situation.
1. Buying a car / 2. Hiring an employee / 3. Writing a book
Fuel efficiency relates to cars, experience to hiring, and audience to writing.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesWhen choosing a university, ________ the quality of the faculty.
We need the full phrase with the article 'an' and the singular verb 'is.'
Select the best option:
This phrase is best suited for formal business or academic contexts.
Manager: 'We need to decide which vendor to hire.' Employee: '________ their reputation for customer service.'
In a professional setting, 'An important consideration is' provides the right level of formality.
1. Buying a car / 2. Hiring an employee / 3. Writing a book
Fuel efficiency relates to cars, experience to hiring, and audience to writing.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, but it's more informal. 'Important' or 'Key' is better for professional writing.
Use 'An important consideration is [thing]' to introduce the topic. Use 'consideration of [thing]' when the thing is already the object of the sentence.
Only if you are being intentionally formal or talking about something very serious, like a legal matter.
A 'factor' is an objective fact that influences something. A 'consideration' is a factor that someone has actively thought about.
Related Phrases
Take into account
similarTo consider something when making a decision.
A key factor
synonymOne of the main things that influences a result.
Food for thought
similarSomething worth thinking about.
The elephant in the room
contrastAn obvious major problem that people are avoiding.
