are primarily not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are primarily not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is mainly or mostly not the case, often in a comparative or contrasting context. Example: "The results of the study show that the participants are primarily not interested in the proposed changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The journalists I have in mind are primarily not from the U.S. but from Europe.

Forbes

In this sense, the spiritual simples are primarily not the forms (as we might expect in Plato), but (in Neoplatonic spirit) the Universal Intellect and Soul.

SEP

The differences in floral morphology are probably because of the fundamentally different behavioural and cognitive abilities and the morphological adaptations for collecting floral rewards (e.g. long tongue, corbiculae) that separate bees from saprophilous flies and beetles, which are primarily not adapted to flower visitation (Faegri & Van der Pijl, 1971).

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This problem is primarily not about age, but staffing.

The Guardian

"It's primarily not a money-saving thing, it's primarily an improvement in customer service.

The New York Times

The Pharisees were primarily not a political party but a society of scholars and pietists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But otherwise, gender inequality in these fields is primarily not a function of sexism, merely of common sense.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is primarily not so much about saving lives as reducing the number who will die, while trying to patch together the rudiments of communities.

The Guardian - Opinion

That New York even tried to force a restructuring on creditors, albeit New York City's, illustrates that the threat of default is primarily not economic, but political.

The Economist

They thus indicate that their dialectics is primarily not the study of deductive logic, or formally valid inference.

SEP

With the PLEX-ID assay, seven PHPs were called that were primarily not identified with STS.

Forensic Science International: Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are primarily not" to clearly indicate the main characteristic or focus is different from what might be expected. This helps to preemptively address potential misconceptions.

Common error

Avoid using "are primarily not" when a simple negative statement suffices. For instance, instead of saying "These books are primarily not about history", you could say "These books are not about history" if history is not a factor at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are primarily not" functions as a qualifier, indicating that something does not principally belong to a certain category or possess a specific attribute. Ludwig examples show its use in contrasting characteristics or purposes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are primarily not" serves as a qualifier, indicating that something's main attribute is not a specific characteristic. As noted in Ludwig, its grammatical function lies in clarifying what something fundamentally isn't, guiding understanding. While grammatically correct, simpler negations may be more concise in certain contexts. The phrase appears mostly in news and scientific contexts. Ludwig’s analysis confirms that the phrase is usable in written English, especially when needing to emphasize a distinction. Related alternatives include "are mainly not" and "are mostly not".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are mostly not

Replaces "primarily" with "mostly", creating a slightly less formal tone.

are mainly not

Substitutes "primarily" with "mainly", offering a near-identical meaning and level of formality.

are not chiefly

Replaces "primarily" with "chiefly", creating a more formal tone.

are not principally

Substitutes "primarily" with "principally", also creating a more formal tone.

are not fundamentally

Changes the emphasis to a more foundational level, suggesting a core characteristic is absent.

are not essentially

Similar to "fundamentally", but emphasizes an inherent quality that is lacking.

do not primarily

Changes the structure to emphasize the action or verb.

are secondarily not

Indicates something is not of secondary importance, rather than primary.

are incidentally not

Suggests something is not the case as a side effect or consequence.

are peripherally not

Implies something is not related or relevant.

FAQs

How can I use "are primarily not" in a sentence?

Use "are primarily not" to specify that something's main characteristic is not a particular attribute. For example, "The journalists I have in mind "are mainly not" from the U.S. but from Europe".

What phrases are similar to "are primarily not"?

Alternatives include "are mostly not", "are mainly not", or "are not chiefly", each conveying a similar sense of something not being the main focus.

When is it best to use "are primarily not" over a simpler negative?

Use "are primarily not" when you want to emphasize that while something might have a slight connection to a certain attribute, that attribute is not its primary characteristic or purpose.

Is "are primarily not" considered formal or informal?

"Are primarily not" falls in a neutral to formal register. Simpler alternatives like "are mostly not" might be more suitable for informal contexts.