a primary contributor to

USAGE SUMMARY

It is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
Example Sentence: She was a primary contributor to the success of the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He went on, "I would not agree that it's a primary contributor to the global warming that we see.

The New Yorker

"Over the last four years it has been brilliant working with Paula, who has been a primary contributor to the strategy and decision-making.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Brown's personal popularity has plunged, too, partly because of what many see as his refusal to acknowledge his failure, as finance minister, to tighten the lax regulation of investment banking and hedge-fund management that financial experts said was a primary contributor to the financial crisis.

The New York Times

Diabetes is increasingly prevalent and a primary contributor to the major causes of disability and death.

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development

Therefore, the topographic effect was a primary contributor to the very small-scale variation in heat flow in this region.

Earth, Planets and Space

Speed is a primary contributor to crash frequencies and increased severity with over 30% of traffic fatalities attributed to speed.

Safety Science

The building sector consumes a high percentage of total energy worldwide and in turn, a primary contributor to the global environmental degradation.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Because of the lack of effective protection for bicyclists, vehicle-bicycle (V-B) accident has become a primary contributor to traffic fatalities.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Numerous publications show that AAM (motion term + mass term) is a primary contributor to interannual variations in LOD (Abarco del Rio et al. 2000, 2003; Holme and de viron 2013; Chen 2005; Chao and Yan 2010).

Earth, Planets and Space

As mentioned in the previous section, the topographic effect was expected to be a primary contributor to the variation in heat flow values in convex-upward and convex-downward seafloor regions (Fig. 8c).

Earth, Planets and Space

It is vital to understand the processes that underlie eyewitness identification because faulty eyewitness identification is a primary contributor to wrongful convictions (contributing to 72%% of the wrongful convictions litigated by the Innocence Project).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a primary contributor to", ensure that you can provide evidence or reasoning to support the claim that the factor you are identifying is indeed a major influence.

Common error

Avoid using "a primary contributor to" when the factor in question is only a minor or secondary influence. Using the phrase accurately maintains credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a primary contributor to" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object complement. It identifies a key factor that significantly influences or causes a particular outcome or situation, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a primary contributor to" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a significant influencing factor. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears frequently in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the identified factor is indeed a major influence and that evidence supports the claim. Alternatives like "a major factor in" or "a key element in" can be used to vary sentence structure while maintaining a similar meaning. While the phrase is widely accepted, avoid overstating the influence of a factor when using it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major factor in

Emphasizes the significance of the contribution, similar to "primary", but uses the word "factor" instead of "contributor".

a key element in

Highlights the essential nature of the contribution, focusing on its importance as a fundamental part of something.

a significant cause of

Focuses on the causal relationship, indicating that the contribution directly leads to a particular result.

a leading influence on

Highlights the impact of the contribution, emphasizing its role in shaping or directing something.

a critical component of

Stresses the necessary nature of the contribution, implying that it's indispensable for the whole.

instrumental in

This alternative highlights the agency of the contributor, suggesting it played an important role in bringing about a particular result.

vital to

Emphasizes the necessity of the contribution, suggesting it is essential for the existence or success of something.

central to

Indicates that the contribution is fundamental and occupies a core position in something.

largely responsible for

Places a high degree of accountability on the contribution, suggesting it is the main reason for something.

plays a crucial role in

Highlights the active part the contribution takes, emphasizing its importance in a specific process or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "a primary contributor to" in a sentence?

Use "a primary contributor to" to indicate a major factor that causes or influences something. For example, "Lack of exercise is "a primary contributor to" heart disease."

What are some alternatives to "a primary contributor to"?

You can use alternatives such as "a major factor in", "a key element in", or "a significant cause of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the primary contributor of" instead of "a primary contributor to"?

While "the primary contributor" can be used, it typically refers to the single most important factor. "A primary contributor to" suggests one of several significant factors influencing something.

What is the difference between "a primary contributor to" and "a secondary contributor to"?

"A primary contributor to" indicates a major or leading cause, while "a secondary contributor to" suggests a less significant or supporting cause. The choice depends on the relative importance of the factor you are describing.