main influence

USAGE SUMMARY

"main influence" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used to refer to the primary or dominant factor that affects or shapes something. Example: "His mother's love and support was the main influence in his decision to pursue a career in music." In this sentence, "main influence" refers to the dominant factor that influenced the person's career choice. Other examples could include: - "The main influence on her fashion style is her favorite celebrity." - "The main influence on the company's decision-making process was the CEO's strong leadership." - "Peer pressure is often the main influence on teenagers' behavior."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

MY mother was the main influence in my life.

The New York Times

The main influence has always seemed to be Cézanne.

The New York Times - Arts

Is she the main influence behind his politics?

The Guardian

And Mr. Lavender's main influence becomes Stephen King.

The New York Times - Books

Its main influence harks back to James Dean Bradfield's first musical love, ELO.

The Guardian - Music

Feldman said in a 1985 interview: "The main influence from Cage was a green light.

The New York Times - Arts

Although that was there in the background, Thatcherism was my main influence.

The Guardian - Arts

But in the main, influence is not specific like this; it's subtle and twisting and complicated.

The Guardian - Books

When I was coming through the main influence was Thomas Leuluai.

The Guardian - Sport

I think the main influence was the extreme Chicago version of satire.

The New Yorker

He's always said that his main influence was the cinema and not other photographers.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "main influence", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being influenced. For example, instead of saying "Technology was the main influence", specify "Technology was the "main influence" on the company's growth".

Common error

Avoid using "main influence" when other factors also play significant roles. Acknowledge contributing influences to provide a balanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "main influence" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the most significant factor that has an effect on something, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "main influence" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the primary factor affecting something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While "main influence" is generally suitable, be mindful of overstating its significance and acknowledge contributing factors for a balanced perspective. Alternatives such as "predominant influence" or "primary influence" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predominant influence

Replaces "main" with "predominant", emphasizing the superior influence.

primary influence

Substitutes "main" with "primary", highlighting the fundamental nature of the influence.

major influence

Uses "major" instead of "main", indicating a significant impact.

principal influence

Replaces "main" with "principal", focusing on the leading or most important influence.

significant influence

Emphasizes the importance of the influence without specifying it as the only one.

key factor

Shifts the focus from 'influence' to 'factor', suggesting a more concrete element.

driving force

Implies the influence is actively propelling or directing something.

chief determinant

Focuses on the influence as the main factor that decides an outcome.

central aspect

Highlights the influence as a core element within a larger context.

root cause

Indicates the influence is the fundamental origin of something.

FAQs

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

Use "main influence" to identify the primary factor affecting something. For instance, "Her mother's encouragement was the "main influence" in her career choice."

What's a good alternative to "main influence"?

You can use alternatives such as "predominant influence", "primary influence", or "major influence" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "major influence" instead of "main influence"?

Yes, "major influence" is a valid and often interchangeable alternative to "main influence". Both indicate a significant impact, though "main influence" suggests the single most important factor.

What is the difference between "main influence" and "strong influence"?

"Main influence" implies the most significant factor, while "strong influence" indicates a considerable but not necessarily dominant effect. The choice depends on the specific context and degree of impact you want to convey.