is primarily composed of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is primarily composed of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the main components or elements that make up something, often in a scientific or technical context. Example: "The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The gelatinous layer is primarily composed of cellulose and hemicellulose.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the moment, the movement is primarily composed of young, educated women, living in cities or abroad.

The New Yorker

Biogas is primarily composed of methane gas, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cellulosic ethanol is produced from lignocellulosic biomass, which is primarily composed of cellulose and lignin found in dry plant matter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is primarily composed of sandstones with shale and coal lenticles (lens-shaped strata, thinner at the edges).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The boys' basketball team, often a powerhouse as well, is primarily composed of black students; the girls team is predominantly white, but that, said Legler, is pure happenstance.

The New York Times

Space radiation is primarily composed of energetic protons and electrons.

Earth, Planets and Space

The particle is primarily composed of orthopyroxene (opx) with minor plagioclase (plg), and troilite (tr).

Earth, Planets and Space

It is primarily composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are strongly associated with each other.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

The 'light salt' diet is primarily composed of potassium chloride salt (approximate consumption 3.5 g/day).

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The NVRS is primarily composed of two encapsulated modules: attention and object recognition.

Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the composition of something, be specific about the components and their proportions if known. For example, instead of saying "The soil is primarily composed of minerals", you could say "The soil is primarily composed of 40% sand, 30% silt, and 30% clay."

Common error

While "is primarily composed of" is correct, avoid using it repetitively in a single text. Vary your language by using synonyms like "consists mainly of", "is chiefly made up of", or "is largely constituted by" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is primarily composed of" functions as a linking verb phrase that connects a subject with a description of its main components or constituents. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples illustrating this function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is primarily composed of" serves to describe the main constituents of something, finding frequent use in scientific, encyclopedic, and news contexts. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. While highly useful, it's important to remember to vary language to avoid repetition. Semantically similar alternatives include "is mainly composed of" and "consists mainly of". Understanding its function and communicative purpose ensures accurate and effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is mainly composed of

Replaces "primarily" with "mainly", suggesting a slight reduction in emphasis on the dominance of the components.

consists mainly of

Simplifies the phrase using "consists" and "mainly", focusing on the composition without emphasizing dominance.

is mostly comprised of

Uses "mostly" and "comprised of", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

is chiefly made up of

Uses "chiefly" and "made up of" to convey the idea of main constituents, altering the structure slightly.

is basically made out of

Simplifies the phrase to a more basic form, emphasizing the essential makeup of something.

is largely constituted by

Employs "largely" and "constituted by", providing a more formal alternative with a similar meaning.

is essentially constructed from

Highlights the core or intrinsic components using "essentially constructed", providing a slightly different emphasis.

is predominantly formed from

Replaces "composed" with "formed", highlighting the process of formation from the main components.

is fundamentally constituted of

Emphasizes the basic or essential components using "fundamentally constituted", adding a layer of importance.

is substantially built from

Uses "substantially" and "built from", suggesting a significant but not necessarily dominant composition.

FAQs

What does "is primarily composed of" mean?

The phrase "is primarily composed of" means that something is mainly made up of certain components or elements. It indicates the main ingredients or constituents that form the majority of an object, substance, or system.

What can I say instead of "is primarily composed of"?

You can use alternatives like "is mainly composed of", "consists mainly of", or "is chiefly made up of" to express a similar meaning.

How can I use "is primarily composed of" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen." This indicates that nitrogen and oxygen are the main gases that make up the atmosphere.

Is "is primarily composed of" formal or informal?

The phrase "is primarily composed of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, it's more commonly used in scientific, technical, or academic writing. For more casual conversations, you might prefer alternatives like "is mostly made up of".