be primarily composed of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be primarily composed of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the main components or elements that make up something, often in a scientific or technical context. Example: "The solution is found to be primarily composed of water and salt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

At high overpotentials the deposit aspect ratio is indistinguishable but the texture is shown to be primarily composed of a {11-20} {11-20}exture.

Electrochimica Acta

Using protease digestion with mass spectrometry, we observe the amyloid core to be primarily composed of the C-terminal region, starting around residue 50.

Biophysical Journal

Electron microscopy studies revealed the surface texture of the films annealed at 250 and 500 °C to be primarily composed of randomly oriented rod and sheet-like shapes and the bulk structure of these films to ensconce fibril-like shapes and distinct spherical nanoparticles, along with elongated pores.

Acta Materialia

Jupiter is believed to be primarily composed of hydrogen, with a quarter of its mass made of helium.

Forbes

Derived from the words "experience apps," Camp holds that the words "incubator" and/or "accelerator" aren't a good fit to describe Expa, which he hopes will be primarily composed of companies that Camp himself built from scratch.

TechCrunch

For example, the large M-type asteroid 22 Kalliope does not appear to be primarily composed of metal.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The gelatinous layer is primarily composed of cellulose and hemicellulose.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Each nanostructure is primarily composed of RNA duplexes and is folded from one long ssRNA.

Nature

The NAc is primarily composed of neurons that contain GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Harvard University

Tanzania's native forests are primarily composed of hardwoods, but softwood production is increasing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the moment, the movement is primarily composed of young, educated women, living in cities or abroad.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use active voice when possible to improve clarity. Instead of saying 'The cake is primarily composed of flour', you might say 'Flour primarily composes the cake'. This isn't always applicable, but consider it as a stylistic choice.

Common error

Avoid using "be primarily composed of" when the subject has diverse or equally important components. "Primarily" suggests a clear majority; if the composition is more balanced, opt for phrases like "be composed of" or "be made up of" to accurately reflect the composition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be primarily composed of" functions as a descriptive expression, typically used to specify the main ingredients, elements, or constituents of a particular subject. Ludwig AI shows that it's used to describe the composition of objects, materials, or abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be primarily composed of" is a descriptive phrase used to indicate the main components of something. Ludwig AI underlines the correctness and usability of the phrase. Predominantly found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts, it maintains a formal register. When using this phrase, remember that "primarily" indicates a clear majority, and alternative expressions like "be mainly constituted of" or "consist mainly of" can be used for variety or in less formal settings. Always ensure that the phrase accurately reflects the relative proportions of the components being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be mainly constituted of

Replaces "primarily" with "mainly" and "composed" with "constituted", focusing on the principal elements.

be chiefly made up of

Substitutes "primarily composed" with "chiefly made up", emphasizing the major components.

consist mainly of

Uses "consist mainly" instead of "primarily composed", offering a more concise alternative.

be largely formed of

Replaces "primarily composed" with "largely formed", indicating a significant portion.

be principally comprised of

Employs "principally comprised" instead of "primarily composed", highlighting the main elements.

be predominantly constructed from

Changes "primarily composed" to "predominantly constructed", focusing on the building blocks.

be essentially constituted by

Uses "essentially constituted" in place of "primarily composed", emphasizing the fundamental components.

be substantially composed by

Replaces primarily with substantially indicating major component.

be significantly made of

Replaces primarily with significantly indicating the importance of the component.

be centrally constituted of

Changes primarily to centrally and composed to constituted showing focus.

FAQs

How do I use "be primarily composed of" in a sentence?

Use "be primarily composed of" to indicate the main constituents of something. For example, "The Earth's core is primarily composed of iron and nickel."

What can I say instead of "be primarily composed of"?

You can use alternatives like "be mainly constituted of", "consist mainly of", or "be largely formed of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be primarily composed of" or "be primarily comprised of"?

"Be primarily composed of" is generally preferred. While "comprised of" is sometimes used, it's often considered less formal or even incorrect by some. Stick to "be primarily composed of" for clarity and correctness.

Is there a difference between "be primarily composed of" and "be mainly made up of"?

While both phrases indicate the main components of something, "be primarily composed of" often suggests a more formal or technical context, whereas "be mainly made up of" is more informal.