are mainly used

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are mainly used" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the primary or predominant purpose of something in a general context. Example: "These tools are mainly used for data analysis in research projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its numerous types are mainly used for animal feeding.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In tennis, they are mainly used as splash candy for picture editors looking for short skirts.

The Guardian - Sport

Some species are exploited as general utility woods and are mainly used domestically, often as fuel.

Britannica

Here, exponential distributions are mainly used for fast simulation results.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Common clays are mainly used in ceramic production.

Developments in Clay Science

They are mainly used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and ulcers.

Harvard University

These statistics are mainly used by the query optimizer for making its optimization decisions.

Stanford University

Scale inhibitors are mainly used for the anti-scaling.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Experience elsewhere indicates that such powers are mainly used by officials as a means of punishing political dissenters.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet Whitman still has a hankering after tablets: Internet tablets are mainly used to consume media and e-mails.

The Guardian - Tech

Worldwide, dams are mainly used for irrigation and hydroelectricity, representing 34percentand25percentcent of the data, respectively.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the primary function of something, ensure that "are mainly used" is followed by a clear and specific purpose or application. For example, "These tools are mainly used for data analysis".

Common error

Avoid using "are mainly used" without specifying the context or purpose. For example, instead of saying "They are mainly used", clarify with "They are mainly used in manufacturing processes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are mainly used" functions as a descriptive predicate, indicating the principal purpose or application of a subject. Ludwig examples show its use in specifying how items, tools, or concepts are commonly or primarily employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are mainly used" is a grammatically sound and versatile construction employed to denote the primary application or purpose of a subject. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its neutral tone and consistent presence across diverse sources—spanning science, news, encyclopedias, and academia—underscore its broad applicability. Alternatives such as "are primarily used" or "are principally used" can offer nuanced emphasis, though the core meaning remains consistent. To maximize clarity, it's advisable to specify the context following the phrase, steering clear of generalizations. With very common usage and versatile register, this phrase offers strong communicative value across various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are mostly used

Replaces "mainly" with "mostly", which is almost synonymous, but can imply less exclusivity.

are primarily used

Replaces "mainly" with "primarily", emphasizing the principal use.

are principally used

Substitutes "mainly" with "principally", highlighting the most important or fundamental use.

are predominantly used

Replaces "mainly" with "predominantly", stressing the most frequent or common use.

are generally used

Substitutes "mainly" with "generally", indicating a common but not necessarily exclusive use.

are typically used

Replaces "mainly" with "typically", suggesting a usual or representative use.

are commonly used

Substitutes "mainly" with "commonly", emphasizing widespread or frequent use.

are largely used

Replaces "mainly" with "largely", suggesting a significant portion of use.

are often used

Substitutes "mainly" with "often", indicating frequent but not necessarily primary use.

are specially used

Specifies a dedicated or particular usage, rather than a general main use.

FAQs

How can I use "are mainly used" in a sentence?

You can use "are mainly used" to describe the primary purpose or function of something. For example, "These computers "are mainly used" for graphic design".

What can I say instead of "are mainly used"?

You can use alternatives like "are primarily used", "are principally used", or "are predominantly used" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "are mainly used" or "is mainly used"?

"Are mainly used" is correct when referring to plural subjects, while "is mainly used" is correct for singular subjects. For example, "These tools are mainly used..." vs. "This tool is mainly used...".

What's the difference between "are mainly used" and "are often used"?

"Are mainly used" suggests a primary or predominant purpose, while "are often used" simply indicates frequent use, but not necessarily the primary one. "Are often used" implies that the item may have multiple usages with a frequent but non-exclusive one.