main column

USAGE SUMMARY

"main column" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a physical column that has a purpose, such as the "main column" in the center of a Greek temple. For example, "The ancient temple is known for its tall main column, standing at nearly 20 feet in height."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Five of the ships sailed deeper into the sound, tasked with protecting the main column from Confederate gunboats.

The New York Times

For his main column, Watkins would visit the House of Commons, but spend as much time in its bars as in the press gallery.

The Guardian

The left-hand sidebar has disappeared from most of our pages, creating a wider main column that is airier and more focussed.

The New Yorker

For a three-component separation the Petlyuk arrangement is composed by a prefractionator fully coupled with a main column that performs the separation of the products.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

The system has an extra column called postfractionator and attached to the main column of an original fully thermally coupled distillation column.

Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification

The day before, Blücher's main column had been extended over 44 miles (71 km), while Yorck's corps was more than 12 miles (19 km) to the north of his line of advance.

Britannica

"This way to Austria," said one policewoman at a motorway junction where traffic was picking up after the main column passed, directing the struggling men, women and families onto a concrete flyover.

The Guardian

But Chad's ambassador in Washington, Mahamoud Adam Bechir, said in a telephone interview that the rebels who had reached the capital were a small group that split from the main column of rebels headed toward the city.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Kurdish commanders insisted that they were satisfied by the day's advance, which came in three main columns.

The New York Times

The two marines recalled their battlefield experiences as American commanders halted one of the three main columns advancing toward Baghdad today.

The New York Times

Contents were to be divided into six main columns, roughly covering language and literature, mathematics, ethics, history and events, geography, and natural science.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about structures, clarify if the "main column" is structural, decorative, or functional to provide context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "main column" when a simple "column" suffices if the context already establishes it as the primary one. Overusing "main" can make your writing sound redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "main column" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It identifies a specific column considered the most important or central, as demonstrated by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "main column" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that serves to identify a primary or central element. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across varied contexts, with its most common applications found in news, science, and wiki articles. When using "main column", it's important to provide sufficient context to distinguish between structural, textual, and military applications. Alternatives like ""principal column"" or ""central column"" can be used to add nuance. Avoiding redundancy by only using "main column" when specifying the key nature of the column is also advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

principal column

Replaces "main" with a synonym emphasizing importance.

central column

Focuses on the positional aspect of being in the center.

primary pillar

Uses "pillar" instead of "column", suggesting support and fundamental importance.

leading column

Highlights the column's role in guiding or directing something.

chief column

Emphasizes the column's rank and authority.

major column

A more general substitution, emphasizing significance.

core column

Implies the column is essential and at the heart of something.

key column

Suggests the column is crucial and indispensable.

base column

Focuses on the column acting as a foundation or starting point.

essential column

Highlights the necessary nature of the column.

FAQs

How can I use "main column" in a sentence?

You can use "main column" to describe the most important pillar in a structure, the central body of text in a document, or the principal line of advancing troops. For example, "The temple's "principal column" supported the roof", "The news article was displayed in the "central column"", or "The "leading column" advanced towards the city".

What are some alternatives to "main column"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""principal column"", ""central column"", "primary pillar", or ""leading column"".

Is "main column" formal or informal?

The phrase "main column" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

In what contexts is "main column" most frequently used?

"Main column" is commonly used in news articles, scientific publications, and wiki articles to refer to a central component, whether physical or abstract. Other contexts include architecture and military strategy.