mainly because a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly because a" is not correct and feels incomplete in written English.
It can be used when introducing a reason or explanation, but it requires additional context to be fully effective. Example: "The project was delayed mainly because a lack of resources hindered our progress."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We used this source mainly because a lot of events were related to the radio.

University of California, Berkeley

Field hockey happened to become her sport mainly because a team in Philadelphia needed a goalie.

The New York Times

Britain's economy has retained its momentum mainly because a relatively weak pound has helped exports.

The New York Times

Mainly because a quarter-century of warfare leaves a deep strain of suspicion.

The Economist

Nicola is forever changed during the riots, but mainly because a glance from his girlfriend silently confirms a pregnancy.

The New Yorker

She applied for a job in a writers' room mainly because a boyfriend told her that she couldn't get one.

The New Yorker

Such crowding out may be modest today, mainly because a slowdown in growth has sharply reduced the demand for capital.

The New York Times

The most plausible explanation seems to be the latter, mainly because a 'Europe-restricted' high mutation rate was judged extremely unlikely, although it was never directly disproved.

Nature

"That is mainly because a huge part of the Italian population lives in the north where the lifestyle is more urban and less Mediterranean," says Harper.

The Guardian

That's mainly because a typical job can have so many tasks and aspects, and different factors predict success at different tasks.

Harvard Business Review

Pricing is critical for smart shoppers, she says, mainly because "a lot of the products in the market nowadays are the same.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that phrases like "mainly because" are followed by a complete clause. For example, instead of "mainly because a", use "mainly because a lack of resources hindered our progress."

Common error

Avoid using "mainly because" without a complete clause. This often leads to grammatically incorrect sentences. Ensure a subject and verb follow to form a complete thought.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly because a" functions as a causal connector, attempting to introduce a reason or explanation. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incomplete and requires a full clause to be correct. It aims to explain why something is happening or what caused a certain outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

39%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "mainly because a" is frequently used across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incomplete. It serves as a causal connector, intending to explain the reasons behind an event or statement. To ensure grammatical correctness, it's crucial to follow "mainly because" with a complete clause, including a subject and a verb. Alternative phrases such as "primarily because" or "largely because" may offer more clarity and grammatical soundness. Always aim for completeness to avoid ambiguity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily because

Replaces "mainly" with "primarily", offering a more formal and emphatic alternative with a slight shift in emphasis.

largely because

Substitutes "mainly" with "largely", indicating a significant but not necessarily exclusive reason.

mostly because

Replaces "mainly" with "mostly", suggesting that the reason is the predominant one.

chiefly because

Offers a more formal alternative to "mainly", emphasizing the principal reason.

principally because

Similar to "chiefly because", this emphasizes the primary or fundamental reason.

primarily due to

Shifts the structure to use "due to" instead of "because", providing a grammatically different but semantically similar option.

mainly as a result of

Replaces "because" with "as a result of", indicating a consequence or outcome.

primarily on account of

Provides a more formal and somewhat archaic alternative to "mainly because".

largely on the grounds that

Introduces a more formal and detailed explanation for the reason.

mostly attributed to

Suggests that the reason is commonly recognized or assigned as the cause.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "mainly because" in a sentence?

Ensure that "mainly because" is followed by a complete clause including a subject and a verb. For example, use "The project was delayed mainly because a lack of resources hindered our progress" instead of "The project was delayed mainly because a..."

What are some alternatives to "mainly because"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily because", "largely because", or "mostly because" depending on the context.

Which is more grammatically correct, "mainly because" or "mainly due to"?

"Mainly due to" is often considered more grammatically sound when followed by a noun phrase. "Mainly because" requires a full clause to be grammatically correct. For example, "The delay was mainly due to the weather" is acceptable, while "The delay was mainly because the weather was bad" is preferable to "The delay was mainly because a weather..."

Is it acceptable to start a sentence with "mainly because"?

While grammatically possible, starting a sentence with "mainly because" can sound awkward. It's generally better to integrate it within the sentence for smoother flow. For example, instead of "Mainly because a storm hit, the event was canceled", try "The event was canceled mainly because a storm hit".