consists primarily of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "consists primarily of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is made up largely or mostly of a single element or type of thing. For example: "The restaurant's menu consists primarily of American cuisine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mallow consists primarily of residential and farmland.

The New York Times

Collection consists primarily of course material.

Cornell University

This box consists primarily of pamphlets.

Cornell University

The inflammatory infiltrate consists primarily of T-cell lymphocytes.

Nature

consists primarily of correspondence with other campus offices.

Columbia University

Prey consists primarily of small mammals and birds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As a result, her literary legacy consists primarily of many notes and letters.

The New York Times - Books

The little retailing that remains consists primarily of fast-food restaurants and convenience and liquor stores.

The New York Times

The Lynx's national exposure consists primarily of two obligatory ESPN appearances a season.

The New York Times - Sports

"It has become increasingly clear that the "pouvoir" now consists primarily of Mediene and Bouteflika".

The Guardian

The 65-member Island-wide senior orchestra consists primarily of enthusiastic amateurs of a certain age.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consists primarily of" when you want to emphasize that something is mostly, but not entirely, made up of a particular element or set of elements. This implies that there may be other, less significant components as well.

Common error

While "consists primarily of" is acceptable in many contexts, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "is mainly composed of" or "is largely made up of" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consists primarily of" functions as a copular verb followed by an adverb and a preposition. It connects a subject with a description of its main components or ingredients. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

23%

Encyclopedias

18%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "consists primarily of" serves to highlight the main components of a subject, setting clear expectations about its composition. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and demonstrates its frequent use across diverse domains such as news, academia, encyclopedias and science. While versatile, it's important to be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms to maintain reader engagement. The phrase presents a neutral to formal register and it is best used to convey information objectively. Consider using it when you need to emphasize the main parts without excluding the possibility of other minor components.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is mainly composed of

Uses a more descriptive verb phrase instead of "consists".

is largely made up of

Emphasizes the components forming the whole.

is chiefly composed of

Replaces "primarily" with "chiefly", indicating main importance.

mainly comprises

Inverts the structure and utilizes a different verb.

is predominantly formed by

Focuses on the formation process and uses "predominantly".

is fundamentally constituted by

Emphasizes the basic elements and uses a more formal tone.

is essentially composed of

Highlights the core or vital components.

is substantially comprised of

Uses "substantially" to convey a significant portion.

is, for the most part, made of

More informal way of saying something is mostly made up of something.

is significant part is

Uses a different word order to express the primary component.

FAQs

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

Use "consists primarily of" to indicate the main components of something. For example, "The book consists primarily of short stories".

What are some alternatives to "consists primarily of"?

You can use alternatives like "is mainly composed of", "is largely made up of", or "mainly comprises" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "consists mainly of" instead of "consists primarily of"?

"Consists mainly of" is grammatically correct and very similar in meaning. However, "consists primarily of" may be slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "consists primarily of" and "consists exclusively of"?

"Consists primarily of" indicates that something is mostly but not entirely made up of something, while "consists exclusively of" means it is only made up of that thing and nothing else.