but chiefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but chiefly" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to introduce a main or most important idea after mentioning other supporting ideas. Example: "The restaurant was known for its delicious food, but chiefly for its famous dessert selection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But chiefly I frame.

Independent

Symphylans occur worldwide but chiefly in the tropics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Corn (maize), an important subsistence crop, is grown widely but chiefly centred on the southeast.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's a musical about tolerance, but chiefly emphasizes tolerance of those who are openly intolerant.

The New York Times

But chiefly, as he puts it, "I just want to kill every time".

The New York Times - Arts

Yet they did so not to found sovereign states but chiefly to provide for their families.

Encyclopedia Britannica

pay, but chiefly as a symptom of collapsing codes of behavior and propriety.

The New York Times - Books

William Fiennes strenuously employs some of them, but chiefly he travels by metaphor.

The New York Times - Books

Here we were not concerned with foreign labor only, but chiefly with German labor, even at that period.

Yale University

His employers have summoned him from time to time to Pune, but chiefly, he says, to discuss board matters.

The New York Times - Sports

It has diversified into other areas, such as videoconferencing, but chiefly because it thought this would increase demand for routers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but chiefly", ensure that the clause following it directly relates to the primary focus of your argument or description, maintaining logical flow.

Common error

Avoid using "but chiefly" in sentences where the distinction between elements isn't significant; simpler conjunctions like "but" or "mainly" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but chiefly" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It connects two clauses or phrases, indicating a contrast while emphasizing the primary or most important element. Ludwig's examples confirm its role in highlighting the key aspect after acknowledging other factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

23%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but chiefly" is a valuable conjunction phrase used to emphasize the most significant aspect while acknowledging other contributing factors. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news, encyclopedic, and academic contexts. The phrase serves to clarify the primary focus of a statement, and while it is acceptable in neutral contexts, avoiding overuse in simple sentences is advisable. Consider using alternatives like "primarily" or "most importantly" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly

Indicates the principal component.

principally

Stresses the foremost element.

primarily

Focuses on the main aspect.

more importantly

Emphasizes greater significance.

most of all

Emphasizes the highest degree of importance.

above all

Highlights the paramount importance.

especially

Highlights a specific aspect above others.

particularly

Similar to 'in particular' but can imply a broader context.

in particular

Draws attention to a specific detail as the most important.

at the heart of the matter

Identifies the core or central point.

FAQs

How can I use "but chiefly" in a sentence?

"But chiefly" is used to emphasize the most important point after mentioning other relevant factors. For example: "The project required teamwork, dedication, but "but chiefly", strong leadership."

What are some alternatives to using "but chiefly" in my writing?

You can replace "but chiefly" with phrases like "primarily", "mainly", or "most importantly" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "but chiefly"?

While grammatically acceptable, starting a sentence with "but chiefly" is less common. It is typically used to connect a contrasting idea to a previous statement within the same sentence structure. Starting with alternatives like "However" or "Most importantly" could sound better.

What's the difference between "but chiefly" and "but mainly"?

Both "but chiefly" and "but mainly" indicate the primary aspect, but "but chiefly" often carries a stronger emphasis on importance or dominance compared to "but mainly".