act as a secondary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act as a secondary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something is taking on a supportive or supplementary role. Example: "In this project, I will act as a secondary to the lead researcher, assisting with data collection and analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Water can act as a secondary cause of conflict as well.

The Guardian

This is very simple, just download and install them and then plug in the USB LCD and it should act as a secondary monitor.

TechCrunch

Specifically, the ALL has been demonstrated to act as a secondary stabiliser during internal rotation torque and simulated pivot-shift test in the ACL-deficient state.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Contaminated sediment can release hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and thereby act as a secondary source of primarily legacy hazardous substances to the water column.

Environmental Pollution

In our study, epidemic K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from both patients and sinks (patients' rooms and the nurses' room), suggesting that contaminated water points could act as a secondary reservoir with a risk of contamination during handwashing.

Annals of Intensive Care

However, these are novel products so the validation chain will mostly act as a secondary checking process, for example, plotting out the results in map form (Figs. 5(c) and (d)).

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Mineral dissolution only acted as a secondary contributor.

Petroleum Science

In this case, PR also acts as a secondary transmitter (ST).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Said screen embeds a 854 x 480 resolution LCD display right into the palm rest and acts as a secondary display.

TechCrunch

The graphics are HD, the motion controls seem improved and the color touchscreen acts as a secondary screen with seamless endless uses.

TechCrunch

Their first product is called DDoS SWAT and acts as a secondary DDoS mitigation service if your first one falls to the enemy.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "act as a secondary", ensure the primary role or function is clearly defined to provide context for the secondary function.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly distinguishing between the primary and secondary functions. Do not use "act as a secondary" if the role is, in fact, the main or most important one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act as a secondary" functions as a verb phrase indicating a supportive or supplementary role. It describes an entity taking on a less prominent, but still important, function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "act as a secondary" is a phrase used to describe something or someone taking on a supportive or supplementary role. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. To avoid ambiguity, it's important to clearly define the primary role when using this phrase. Alternative phrases include "serve as a backup" or "function as a supplement". While the phrase is valid, clarity is essential to ensure the intended meaning is conveyed effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide secondary support

This alternative uses similar words but changes the grammatical structure.

serve as a backup

This alternative emphasizes the function of providing support if the primary option fails.

function as a supplement

This emphasizes the supplementary nature of the role.

work as an auxiliary

This alternative highlights a supportive or helping role.

perform a backup function

Focuses on the action of backing up or providing a reserve.

play a supporting role

This alternative is more general and emphasizes the act of providing support.

act as a complement

This suggests that the phrase enhances or completes something else.

serve in a supporting capacity

This is a more formal way of saying that something is providing assistance.

function as an adjunct

This emphasizes the supportive and non-essential nature of the role.

act as an understudy

This implies a role of learning and being ready to replace the primary actor.

FAQs

How can I use "act as a secondary" in a sentence?

You can use "act as a secondary" to describe something or someone that provides support or assistance, such as "The backup generator will "serve as a backup" power source if the main grid fails".

What are some alternatives to "act as a secondary"?

Alternatives include "serve as a backup", "function as a supplement", or "play a supporting role", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "acted as a secondary"?

Yes, "acted as a secondary" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. For example, "During the crisis, he "played a supporting role" to the lead investigator".

How does "act as a secondary" differ from "act as the primary"?

"Act as a secondary" indicates a supporting or supplementary role, while "act as the primary" signifies the main or most important role. They are opposite in meaning.