consisted primarily of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "consisted primarily of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a collection of things that make up the majority of something. For example, "The attendees consisted primarily of people from the local area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its membership consisted primarily of Cantonese speakers from southern China.

Britannica

Day two of the workshop consisted primarily of working discussions.

Columbia University

His printed work consisted primarily of book illustrations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They consisted primarily of alternating ZrN/AlSiN nano-multilayers.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The occasional, taut conversations between Stephen and David consisted primarily of reveries about reaching America.

The New York Times - Magazine

The audience consisted primarily of attractive, nattily-dressed, and facially hirsute young men.

The New Yorker

Gioia's diet consisted primarily of pasta, white bread, vegetables, and tap water — the anti-Atkins.

The New Yorker

The three-day sale consisted primarily of objects from Casa Casuarina, Versace's villa in Miami.

The New York Times

This consisted primarily of the tread-mill, or, as an alternative, the crank.

Britannica

Until fairly recently, the commercial publishing market consisted primarily of educational books.

The New York Times - Books

Lowery and Tallman (1976) reported stomach contents consisted primarily of insects.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "consisted primarily of", ensure that the items you list truly represent the majority. If the composition is closer to 50/50, consider using phrases like "consisted of equally" or "was composed of a mix of".

Common error

Avoid using "consisted primarily of" if the listed components are not actually the largest portion of the whole. Doing so can mislead the reader about the true composition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consisted primarily of" functions as a linking verb phrase that connects a subject to a description of its main components. It indicates the principal elements that constitute something, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

27%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "consisted primarily of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe the main components of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates that a subject is mainly composed of specified elements. It's versatile, appearing across various contexts from news and media to scientific publications and encyclopedias. When writing, be mindful to use it when the listed components genuinely represent the majority, and consider the alternatives provided for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly comprised of

Replaces "consisted" with "comprised" and "primarily" with "mainly", both indicating the major components.

largely composed of

Uses "composed" instead of "consisted" and "largely" instead of "primarily", emphasizing the substantial portion.

mostly made up of

Employs a more informal tone with "made up of", while "mostly" conveys the principal composition.

chiefly constituted of

Replaces "consisted" with "constituted" and "primarily" with "chiefly", indicating the main elements forming something.

predominantly featured

Shifts focus to the prominent elements or aspects, using "predominantly" to highlight what's most apparent.

principally included

Focuses on inclusion, using "principally" to denote the major components included.

primarily encompassed

Uses "encompassed" instead of "consisted", suggesting a wider scope, but "primarily" maintains the emphasis on the main elements.

generally contained

Highlights the elements contained within, using "generally" to indicate the typical or usual composition.

substantially embodied

Employs a more abstract term "embodied", suggesting the main characteristics or qualities, while "substantially" emphasizes the significant degree.

at its core was

Indicates the central or most important part.

FAQs

How can I use "consisted primarily of" in a sentence?

Use "consisted primarily of" to indicate that something was mainly composed of certain elements. For example, "The team "consisted primarily of" volunteers" shows that most of the team members were volunteers.

What are some alternatives to "consisted primarily of"?

You can use alternatives such as "mainly comprised of", "largely composed of", or "mostly made up of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "consisted of primarily"?

While understandable, the standard and more grammatically sound phrasing is ""consisted primarily of"". Placing "primarily" before "of" is less common and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "consisted primarily of" and "consisted solely of"?

"Consisted primarily of" means something was mainly made up of certain elements, but not exclusively. "Consisted solely of" means it was composed entirely of those elements, with nothing else included.