# Is this use of 'penultimate' correct?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-use-of-penultimate-correct/841216>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 3, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-use-of-penultimate-correct/841216 "2019-10-03T18:59:47Z")\
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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-use-of-penultimate-correct/841216/1 "2019-10-03T18:59:47Z")

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I am an engineer, not a writer, and yet I find myself responsible for writing an SOP. I am not enjoying this.

How can I succinctly state that something is important but it’s not the most important thing, that there is something else of higher importance? Here is my draft so far:

“_These products are to be first and foremost, safe, accurate, and effective. It is of penultimate importance that they be developed as quickly as reasonably practicable._”

So, speed is of secondary importance. But speed is still highly important. That’s what I’m trying to say.

Is that the correct usage of penultimate? Thanks much, in advance.

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