focus primarily on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "focus primarily on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that the main attention or effort is directed towards a specific subject or area. Example: "In this report, we will focus primarily on the environmental impacts of urban development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Primary weakness - a focus primarily on one operating system (not used by businesses).

Bplans

Postoperative assessments focus primarily on static outcomes (e.g., repositioning accuracy).

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

We focus primarily on the acoustic communication system of Drosophila.

Princeton University

Interested in a position with a focus primarily on history?

Harvard University

They focus primarily on news-related websites, though this may include blog platforms, for instance.

The Guardian - Tech

"And this means someone can focus primarily on the well-being of the mom".

The New York Times

But Leave.EU want to focus "primarily on the issues of identity and on immigration," he said.

The Guardian

Most climate change mitigation strategies are sector-based and focus primarily on energy use.

The Guardian

The aid will focus primarily on Ica and Chincha, areas also hard hit by the quake.

The New York Times

Several tour companies focus primarily on Costa Rica, including Costa Rica Expeditions.

The New York Times - Travel

Previous studies on biocompatibility of DLC films focus primarily on morphological issues like roughness and wettability.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "focus primarily on", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the secondary areas of attention might be. This provides a complete picture to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "focus primarily on" when there is absolutely no secondary focus. In such cases, "focus solely on" or simply "focus on" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focus primarily on" functions as a verb phrase indicating the main area of attention or effort. Ludwig provides several examples of its use in various contexts, highlighting its role in specifying priorities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "focus primarily on" is a versatile and grammatically correct way to indicate a main area of concentration while acknowledging secondary considerations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. When using "focus primarily on", ensure the context clarifies the secondary areas and avoid its use when there is a sole focus. Alternatives like "focus mainly on" and "concentrate chiefly on" can provide subtle variations in emphasis. Pay special attention to the register, as it tends to be formal to professional and choose other alternatives if looking for a term to use in a more informal setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus mainly on

Replaces "primarily" with "mainly", indicating a slight shift in emphasis but maintaining the core meaning.

concentrate chiefly on

Substitutes "focus" with "concentrate" and "primarily" with "chiefly", suggesting a principal area of attention.

emphasize particularly on

Replaces "focus" with "emphasize" and "primarily" with "particularly", highlighting a specific aspect or detail.

stress especially on

Similar to emphasize, but adds a component of importance.

center principally on

Indicates that something is centrally important.

prioritize largely on

Signifies allocating resources or attention based on importance.

dedicate attention mainly to

Indicates commitment of resources or effort to a specific area.

major in

A shorter more concise alternative, best used when describing a field of study.

specialize in

Denotes expertise or concentrated effort in a particular area.

target specifically

Highlights a specific aim or objective.

FAQs

How can I use "focus primarily on" in a sentence?

The phrase "focus primarily on" indicates the main subject or area of concentration while acknowledging that other, secondary areas may also receive attention. For example, "The study will "focus primarily on" the impact of climate change on coastal regions."

What's the difference between "focus primarily on" and "focus solely on"?

"Focus primarily on" implies that while something is the main priority, other areas are still considered. "Focus solely on", on the other hand, means that only one thing is being considered to the exclusion of everything else.

Which is correct: "focus primarily on" or "primarily focus on"?

"Focus primarily on" is the more common and grammatically sound construction. "Primarily focus on" can sound awkward and is less frequently used.

What can I say instead of "focus primarily on"?

You can use alternatives like "focus mainly on", "concentrate chiefly on", or "emphasize particularly on" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.