it was mainly about

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'it was mainly about' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate what a particular topic, subject, or conversation was mainly focused on. For example: "We had a long discussion yesterday, and it was mainly about how to improve our sales strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

But it was mainly about teen pregnancy and, unfortunately, the supposed attractiveness of Jason Bateman and Michael Cera.

Vice

I guess – this will sound bad – I have managed to relish the show for all its 13 years without noticing how seriously they took the quiz element, thinking it was mainly about the surreal genius of Alan Davies and its alchemical reaction with Stephen Fry's headmasterly omniscience, with other comedians acting as fresh meat and the answers more of a garnish.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ben Bernanke argues that it was mainly about finance.

The New York Times

It was mainly about the threat of domestic attack.

The Economist

What it was mainly about was the chorus.

The New York Times

It was mainly about sexual relationships, loneliness and desire – you can get the DVD.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

At its most pragmatic, it is mainly about cutting costs — by reducing waste, selling recyclable components and reusing byproducts like rubber or plastic to create a new product.

The New York Times

Its creators say it's mainly about gaining a better understanding of how the brain works, and it offers a few practical, health-based applications.

Forbes

K-VILLE It's a cop show, but it's mainly about its location: current-day New Orleans.

The New York Times

It's mainly about its people," Hassan said.

Huffington Post

Taking each group in turn, German graduates rarely prioritise the economic rationale of moving to London: for them it is mainly about the city's cultural and social attractions, its cosmopolitan and multicultural atmosphere and other urban lifestyle attributes.

Comparative Migration Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was mainly about", ensure the context clearly establishes what 'it' refers to, preventing ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it was mainly about" without a clear antecedent for 'it'. Ensure the subject is explicitly stated earlier in the sentence or paragraph to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was mainly about" functions as a predicative expression, clarifying the central topic or subject matter under consideration. It's used to specify the primary focus of something, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was mainly about" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the primary focus of a topic, discussion, or event. Analysis of Ludwig's examples reveals its widespread usage across news, science, and business contexts. While grammatically straightforward, it's important to ensure clarity by explicitly referencing the subject ('it') to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "it primarily concerned" for a change in wording. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is a reliable way to convey the core subject matter effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it primarily concerned

Replaces 'mainly about' with 'primarily concerned', indicating the main subject of concern.

the focus was on

Shifts the structure to emphasize the 'focus' rather than the subject itself.

the central theme revolved around

Uses more formal language to highlight the central theme.

it largely centered on

Substitutes 'mainly about' with 'largely centered on', indicating a primary focus.

the main topic was

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct statement of the main topic.

its principal subject was

Employs more formal vocabulary to denote the principal subject.

it chiefly pertained to

Replaces 'mainly about' with 'chiefly pertained to', indicating primary relevance.

the core of it was

Focuses on the 'core' element, suggesting the essential part.

it was fundamentally about

Highlights the fundamental aspect of the subject

the gist of it was

Indicates the general meaning or central point.

FAQs

How can I use "it was mainly about" in a sentence?

Use "it was mainly about" to specify the primary focus or subject of a discussion, event, or piece of work. For example, "The meeting was mainly about the new marketing strategy".

What are some alternatives to "it was mainly about"?

You can use alternatives like "it primarily concerned", "the focus was on", or "the central theme revolved around" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it was mostly about" instead of "it was mainly about"?

Yes, "it was mostly about" is a perfectly acceptable alternative and carries a similar meaning to "it was mainly about". Both phrases indicate the primary subject or focus.

What's the difference between "it was mainly about" and "it was also about"?

"It was mainly about" indicates the primary subject, while "it was also about" suggests an additional, but perhaps less significant, topic. Choose the phrase that best reflects the relative importance of the subject matter.