is not mainly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not mainly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not primarily or predominantly a certain way or characteristic. Example: "The project is not mainly focused on profit but rather on sustainability and community impact."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is not mainly responsible.

The Washington Post

But the loss Neilson feels is not mainly about money.

Princeton University

After all, Masuria is not mainly about rivers.

The Guardian - Travel

In fact, it is not mainly about him.

The Guardian - Books

And again, this is not mainly because of the Amazon.

The Economist

Mandela understood that politics is not mainly a cerebral sport.

The New York Times

But the rapid disintegration of his government and party is not mainly due to this failure.

The Guardian - Opinion

This alarming state of affairs is not mainly the result of hidden conspiracies or bad luck.

The New York Times

"We are making the point that the TPP is not mainly about trade at all.

The Guardian

This is not mainly because Eliot was a raving intellectual, but because he was a chap.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is to say that PF5 originated from LiPF6 is not mainly responsible for the generation of CO233,34.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is not mainly", ensure that you clarify what the focus is, to provide a balanced understanding. For example, instead of just saying "The problem is not mainly financial", add "but rather operational."

Common error

Avoid using "is not mainly" repeatedly in close succession, as it can make your writing sound convoluted and unclear. Vary your sentence structure and use more direct positive statements where possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not mainly" functions as a qualifier or adverbial phrase. It modifies a statement to indicate that something is not the principal or primary factor. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in negating the main reason or cause, redirecting focus to other elements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

38%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is not mainly" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something isn't the primary or principal factor. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. When using this phrase, it's best practice to clarify the actual focus to provide a more complete picture. Related phrases include "is not primarily" and "is not principally". While versatile, avoid overusing negative constructions for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not primarily

Replaces 'mainly' with 'primarily', indicating the chief importance of something isn't in a certain area.

is not principally

Substitutes 'mainly' with 'principally', denoting that something is not the foremost reason or factor.

is not chiefly

Replaces 'mainly' with 'chiefly', implying that a certain element isn't the leading one.

is not predominantly

Uses 'predominantly' instead of 'mainly', suggesting something isn't the most noticeable aspect.

is not largely

Employs 'largely' in place of 'mainly', expressing that a specific element isn't the biggest portion.

is not essentially

Swaps 'mainly' for 'essentially', implying that something does not inherently possess a certain nature.

is not fundamentally

Replaces 'mainly' with 'fundamentally', indicating that a certain characteristic isn't basic or central.

is not primarily concerned with

Expands the phrase to clarify the focus isn't primarily in a specific area or topic.

is not focused on

Indicates a shift from 'mainly' to 'focused on', suggesting attention isn't directed towards something particular.

is not particularly

Uses 'particularly' instead of 'mainly', signifying that something isn't particularly important or significant.

FAQs

What does "is not mainly" mean?

The phrase "is not mainly" indicates that something is not the primary or principal aspect of a situation. It suggests that while something might be a contributing factor, it's not the most important or significant one.

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

You can use "is not mainly" to clarify the relative importance of different aspects. For example: "The company's success "is not mainly" due to advertising, but rather its innovative product design."

What can I say instead of "is not mainly"?

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

Is it better to use "is not mainly" or "is secondarily"?

While both phrases indicate something isn't the primary factor, "is not mainly" is more common and generally clearer. "Is secondarily" might sound more formal but can also be less direct. It's better to use "is not mainly" unless you specifically want a more formal tone.