is not chiefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not chiefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not primarily or mainly a certain way or characteristic. Example: "The issue at hand is not chiefly about funding, but rather about the implementation of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The record-breaking drought in California is not chiefly the result of low precipitation.

Yale University

The calculation here is not chiefly electoral, and certainly not based on these latest results.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would be better applied to a meeting which is not chiefly a festival of self-congratulation and, as in Genoa's particular case, a public-relations disaster.

The Economist

For a student with a basic ability to decode print, a reading-comprehension test is not chiefly a test of formal techniques but a test of background knowledge.

The New York Times

And it is not chiefly ideological; it is not that he signed the land-for-security peace plan with the Palestinians.

The New York Times

Classical Confucian Political Thought brings a new understanding to Confucian political theory by illustrating that it is not chiefly idealistic and centered on virtue, but rather realistic and driven by political concerns.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

By then, it's clear "The Architect" isn't chiefly an explication of Rove's master plan.

The New York Times - Books

The good news for New York is that safety isn't chiefly what financially ambitious young people yearn for.

The New York Times - Magazine

The book, wrought from old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting of a type that's disappearing faster than nonfranchised lunch counters on Main Street, isn't chiefly a tale of drugs and crime, of dysfunction and despair, but a recession-era tragedy scaled for an "Our Town," Thornton Wilder stage and seemingly based on a script by William S. Burroughs.

The New York Times - Books

Human evolution isn't chiefly materialistic, even though the fossil record without a doubt gives us the physical traces of our ancestors.

Huffington Post

That is, they are not chiefly reliant on empirical observation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is not chiefly" to clarify that something has multiple aspects, but the stated one is not the most important. This helps to provide a balanced perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "is not chiefly" when the aspect you're dismissing is, in fact, the most significant one. This can mislead the reader and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not chiefly" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a particular aspect is not the primary or most important one. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not chiefly" is a useful tool for adding nuance and precision to your writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it correctly indicates that something is not the primary or most important aspect. While not as common as alternatives like "is not primarily" or "is not mainly", it's appropriate for a range of contexts, particularly in news, academic, and encyclopedia writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the aspect you're downplaying is indeed secondary to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not primarily

Replaces "chiefly" with "primarily", emphasizing the main aspect.

is not mainly

Substitutes "chiefly" with "mainly", focusing on the principal component.

is not principally

Uses "principally" instead of "chiefly", stressing the foremost element.

is not essentially

Replaces "chiefly" with "essentially", highlighting the fundamental nature.

is not predominantly

Substitutes "chiefly" with "predominantly", emphasizing the most common aspect.

is not largely

Uses "largely" instead of "chiefly", indicating a significant but not exclusive component.

is not mostly

Replaces "chiefly" with "mostly", suggesting the greatest part but not the entirety.

is not fundamentally

Substitutes "chiefly" with "fundamentally", emphasizing the basic or central aspect.

is not particularly

Uses "particularly" instead of "chiefly", indicating that something is not especially prominent.

is not singularly

Replaces "chiefly" with "singularly", stressing that something is not uniquely focused on a particular aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "is not chiefly" in a sentence?

Use "is not chiefly" to indicate that something is not the primary or most important aspect of a situation. For example, "The problem is not chiefly financial, but rather organizational."

What are some alternatives to "is not chiefly"?

You can use alternatives like "is not primarily", "is not mainly", or "is not principally" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is not chiefly" or "is not mainly"?

Both "is not chiefly" and "is not mainly" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "is not chiefly" and "is not simply"?

"Is not chiefly" means something is not the primary aspect, while "is not simply" means something is more complex than it appears. They address different aspects of a subject.