chiefly like

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chiefly like" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when comparing something primarily or mainly to another thing, but it is better to use more common expressions. Example: "The new design is chiefly like the previous model, with only minor changes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We know that a model by Traeger is by far the more popular and widely distributed, but we think this is a lot better chiefly because we like the controller better.

Huffington Post

The existence of primal man was chiefly determined, like the production itself, by the sounds surrounding him.

The New York Times

Still, it faces a bigger uphill battle than The Birth of a Nation, chiefly because like all of Lonergan's output, it's small-scaled and challenging.

The Guardian - Film

Chiefly, firms like DFJ, Lux Capital, and First Round Capital, have backed a number of drone and satellite imaging companies — most notably Planet Labs, which closed a $52 million round from Yuri Milner last year to back its launch plans for a fleet of low-cost imaging satellites.

TechCrunch

But a novel that appeals chiefly to people who like to look at books rather than read them isn't a meaningful contribution to the world of literature, and it's hard to imagine why Danielewski would release a book so impenetrable and willfully obtuse.

The Guardian - Books

Mr Jones enjoyed guns – who doesn't? – and was determined to make this point to Mr Morgan, who didn't like guns chiefly because of how they kill people.

Vice

Having compared the quality of health services across Europe, his firm concludes that countries relying primarily on insurance, like France, Germany and the Netherlands, do better than those that rely chiefly on tax, like Britain, Italy and Spain which also happen to spend less on health relative to GDP (see chart 3).

The Economist

Nevertheless, differences with Treg cells may exist: Breg activation may chiefly involve the toll-like receptors rather than the antigen receptor; and Bregs act earlier, facilitating the recruitment of Tregs then disappearing once the Tregs become operational.

Joint Bone Spine

The prosthetic limbs mass-produced by the British government in response to the thalidomide crisis in the 1960s aimed chiefly to look like realistic limbs, and yet they were clunky and rather macabre.

The Guardian - Arts

But some fans of file-trading services say that zip files will never approach the popularity of MP3's, chiefly because some like their music one song at a time.

The New York Times - Arts

The President's own focus was chiefly on matters like stem-cell-research regulation and the sort of educational reforms he had pushed through a Democratic legislature as governor of Texas.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "chiefly like" with more common and clearer alternatives such as "mainly similar to" or "primarily resembling" to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "chiefly like" when you intend to convey a general resemblance. Opt for stronger, more direct phrases like "closely resembles" or "is largely similar to" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chiefly like" functions as a comparator, aiming to express a dominant similarity. It intends to highlight a principal resemblance but is considered non-standard, as noted by Ludwig. Replacing it with established alternatives enhances clarity.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "chiefly like" is not a standard English construction and is generally considered incorrect. While its intention is to express primary similarity, it's better replaced with clearer alternatives such as "mainly similar to" or "primarily resembling". Ludwig AI underscores that using these alternatives enhances clarity and avoids confusion. Given its non-standard nature, "chiefly like" should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. As supported by Ludwig, relying on more established phrases ensures effective and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chiefly comparable to

Focuses on the main point of comparison between two entities.

mainly similar to

Emphasizes the principal similarity between two subjects.

primarily resembling

Highlights the foremost aspect of physical or conceptual likeness.

fundamentally resembles

Stresses a basic or core similarity in nature or structure.

largely the same as

Indicates a substantial degree of equivalence, focusing on the major components.

mainly mirrors

Suggests a reflective or close resemblance in key attributes.

largely mirrors

Indicates that many of the feature are mirrored

mostly akin to

Suggests a general correspondence or relatedness.

primarily analogous to

Highlights the major points of analogy or parallel.

principally simulates

Indicates that the primary function is to imitate or act like something else.

FAQs

How can I rewrite a sentence using "chiefly like" to sound more natural?

Replace "chiefly like" with phrases such as "mainly similar to", "primarily resembling", or "largely the same as" for improved clarity and flow. For example, instead of "The new design is chiefly like the old one", try "The new design is "mainly similar to" the old one".

What does "chiefly like" mean?

"Chiefly like" is a non-standard construction intended to mean "mainly similar to" or "primarily resembling". While the individual words are common, combining them in this specific order is unusual. It can generally be replaced by "mainly similar to".

Which phrases are similar to "chiefly like"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "primarily resembling", "largely the same as", or "mostly akin to", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. In general use "primarily resembling".

Is it grammatically correct to use "chiefly like" in a sentence?

The phrase "chiefly like" is not a standard or widely accepted grammatical construction in English. While understandable, it's better to use more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "mainly similar to" or "primarily resembling".