Principally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Principally" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is primarily or mainly the case, often in contrast to other factors or elements. Example: "The project was principally focused on improving community engagement and participation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yes, it is principally about the soil, its fertility and the lack of chemicals and pesticides used, but it's also about "the unseen forces and energies of life and growth that permeate all living things".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The questions economists seek to answer, the tools they use to help find the answers (that's principally maths, rather than the applied topics that research suggests women are drawn to), the standard assumptions they make along the way (that people are emotionless, free and selfish), and the things they choose to measure all reflect a traditional and stereotypical male way of looking at the world.

The Guardian

British shareholders could also make money by investing in Indian infrastructure, principally the railways, where the Indian government attracted funds by guaranteeing returns on capital of 5% net per year.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Lib-Con partnership has been a very British phenomenon, cemented by personal relationships and the success of two party elites discovering sufficient personal chemistry and affinity of objective – principally on fiscal strategy – to keep the show on the road.

The Guardian - Opinion

Born in Birmingham and educated at Solihull school, in the West Midlands, he trained at the Birmingham School of Art in the 1950s before embarking on an architectural career that frequently took him abroad for long periods, principally to the Middle East and the far east.

The Guardian - Arts

"It seems that growth has come principally from domestic demand, with consumption benefitting from the drop in energy prices and buoyant financial markets boosting confidence," said Vanden Houte.

The Guardian - Business

Owen Gibson Waris Dirie has done more than any other person to raise awareness about the dreadful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), which potentially affects millions of women, principally in Africa and Asia but also increasingly in the UK and other west European countries.

The Guardian

Only a few isolated voices – such as former cabinet ministers Laurent Wauquiez and Michel Rocard – argue in favour of a Brexit, the latter considering that Britain is principally to blame for the paralysis in European decision-making.

The Guardian

The western Balkans is a notorious smuggling funnel for those desperate to get into an EU country, principally Hungary to the north or Bulgaria to the south.

The Guardian

As emperor his duties are largely ceremonial, consisting principally of state visits and apologising to other Asian countries for Japan's wartime conduct.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet the cuts he has promised principally an almost comically modest reduction in a fuel allowance for pensioners are so footling when set against Britain's huge public debt burden as to give the opposite of the impression intended.Enough differentiationThe popular explanation for this failure is ideological.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "principally" to clearly indicate the main reason, factor, or aspect being discussed, especially when other secondary elements are present. For instance, "The company's success was principally due to its innovative marketing strategies."

Common error

Avoid using "principally" in sentences where a simpler word like "mainly" or "chiefly" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

Principally functions as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate the primary or main aspect of an action or quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The examples show it clarifying the most significant element in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Principally is an adverb used to indicate the primary or main aspect of something. It's grammatically sound and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. The word appears most frequently in news and media, formal business, and scientific contexts. When writing, use "principally" to highlight the most important factor or reason, but avoid overuse in simple sentences where a word like "mainly" would suffice. Related phrases include "chiefly", "primarily", and "mainly". Remember, while correct, choosing a simpler word might sometimes improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chiefly

Indicates the main or most important element, similar to "principally".

primarily

Highlights the foremost aspect or reason, akin to "principally".

mainly

Suggests the major part or extent, comparable to "principally".

in the main

Emphasizes the general or overall aspect, similar to "principally".

largely

Signifies a considerable degree or extent, close in meaning to "principally".

predominantly

Highlights the prevailing or dominant aspect, similar to "principally".

for the most part

Indicates the majority of something, similar to "principally" but less formal.

above all

Highlights the most important or significant aspect, similar to "principally" but more emphatic.

essentially

Indicates the fundamental or inherent nature, related to the core idea of "principally".

first and foremost

Emphasizes the initial and primary importance, similar to "principally" but more formal.

FAQs

How can I use "principally" in a sentence?

Use "principally" to indicate the main or primary reason for something. For example, "The project was "principally" funded by private donations."

What are some alternatives to the word "principally"?

You can use alternatives like "mainly", "chiefly", or "primarily" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "principally" and "especially"?

"Principally" means mainly or primarily, while "especially" means particularly or to a greater extent than usual. They are not interchangeable.

Is it correct to use "principally" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "principally". For example, "Principally, the new policy aims to reduce carbon emissions."