however mainly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however mainly" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used when you want to introduce a contrast while emphasizing the primary focus of a statement, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "The project was successful; however mainly due to the team's hard work and dedication."

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many people here, however, mainly recall those who did not flee.

The New York Times

Interest remained, however, mainly confined to logic and its application to theology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These international schools have, however, mainly taught expatriates (of all nationalities).

The Economist

The show is unexpectedly fascinating, however, mainly because of the efforts of its curator, Gabriel P. Weisberg, a professor of art history at the University of Minnesota.

The New York Times - Arts

The two men did joust over domestic security, however, mainly over whether to give the president complete freedom to hire and fire workers in a new agency.

The New York Times

However, mainly Mitch comes across as distraught and exhausted, juggling the myriad roles thrust upon him by Amy's condition: minder, carer, protector, shrink, troubleshooter.

The Guardian - Books

That trouble is, however, mainly because of fears about the nation's broader difficulties — not least the fear of political turmoil in the face of very high unemployment.

The New York Times

Since the supply of males is low, females compete for them instead.This idea remained untested, however, mainly because finding reliable data on animal sex ratios is tricky.

The Economist

A few master pewterers in Saxony did execute relief decoration, however, mainly on jugs; they adapted their motifs from lead or bronze plaquettes made in southern Germany.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The rate of population growth has increased rapidly since the late 20th century, however, mainly because of high birth rates and low death rates.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sites like that Traveloka, however, mainly target large hotel chains.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "however mainly", ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates the contrast you're introducing. Consider if a stronger or more specific contrasting word would enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "however mainly" in every contrasting sentence. Vary your sentence structure and use other contrasting words to prevent your writing from sounding repetitive and monotonous. It is redundant to use "however" and "mainly" in cases where "mainly" is already implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however mainly" functions as an adverbial connector, linking two clauses while indicating a contrast. It serves to introduce a qualification or exception to the preceding statement while simultaneously emphasizing the primary reason or aspect as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "however mainly" is used to introduce a contrasting element while emphasizing the primary reason or aspect. While grammatically acceptable, as indicated by Ludwig AI, it may sometimes sound awkward, suggesting the use of stronger and clearer alternatives like "but primarily" or "yet chiefly". Its usage is most frequent in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral tone. When writing, it's best to avoid overuse and ensure clarity in sentence structure. Always consider whether more direct contrasting words would enhance the reader’s understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however primarily

Replaces "mainly" with "primarily", indicating the chief or principal aspect.

but chiefly

Substitutes "however" with "but" and "mainly" with "chiefly", altering the tone while retaining the core meaning.

yet principally

Uses "yet" instead of "however" and "principally" instead of "mainly", providing a more formal alternative.

nevertheless predominantly

Replaces "however" with "nevertheless" and "mainly" with "predominantly", resulting in a more emphatic contrast.

though largely

Replaces "however" with "though" and "mainly" with "largely", offering a slightly less formal tone.

still mostly

Substitutes "however" with "still" and "mainly" with "mostly", indicating a degree of continuation despite the contrast.

in general though

Rephrases the sentence to start with a general statement, followed by "though", to introduce a contrast. Replaced "mainly" because it is already expressed by the "in general" construction.

but on the whole

Uses "but on the whole" to express a general contrast, implying the primary focus.

despite this primarily

Introduces the contrast with "despite this" and emphasizes the principal reason with "primarily".

even so chiefly

Uses "even so" to show concession and "chiefly" to highlight the main aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "however mainly" in a sentence?

Use "however mainly" to introduce a contrast while emphasizing the primary reason or focus. For example, "The project was successful; "however mainly" due to the team's dedication." It’s often better to consider more common alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "however mainly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "but primarily", "yet chiefly", or "nevertheless predominantly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "however mainly" grammatically correct?

While "however mainly" isn't strictly incorrect, it can sound awkward to some readers. Ludwig AI indicates it's acceptable but advises considering clearer alternatives. Using more concise and direct wording often improves readability.

What is the difference between "however mainly" and "but mainly"?

"However" introduces a stronger contrast than "but". While both phrases are similar, ""however mainly"" may be more suitable when the contrast is more significant than the primary focus. But this is just a slight differentiation.