mainly different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly different" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has significant differences, but not exclusively so, indicating that the differences are the primary aspect. Example: "The two products are mainly different in terms of their design and functionality."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

But the pleasures of this book are mainly different from those of a thread of personal story.

The Guardian - Books

What is mainly different this time, analysts say, is that the work force charge is being taken in a single quarter rather than being spread across an entire year.

The New York Times - Tech

The federal government is setting up 24 technical colleges in competition with the TAFEs which will concentrate on trades, mainly different kinds of engineering.The new colleges may shake things up a bit, but there is an endemic lack of competition in Australia's educational system.

The Economist

This model reveals meaningful results which are mainly different from utilitarian walking.

European Transport Research Review

Two different types of CFRP plates were used being mainly different in the tensile modulus of elasticity.

Construction and Building Materials

Likewise, these similar compounds are embedded closer to each other in 3D space, while compounds that have mainly different feature values will have 3D positions far from each other.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

We will exclude trials mainly comparing different acupuncture points of acupuncture or comparing different types of acupuncture.

BMJ Open

Or mainly a different way of teaching?

The New Yorker

"She deals mainly with different kinds of ways people live, from shanties to planned cities," Ms. Dennison said.

The New York Times - Arts

This arises mainly from different methods used to average raw price figures.

The Economist

There are mainly three different approaches today to solve this.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mainly different", ensure you clarify the specific aspects in which the subjects differ to provide clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "mainly different" without specifying how things differ; otherwise, your statement becomes vague and unhelpful. Provide context for the key distinctions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly different" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun or noun phrase to indicate the principal area of distinction. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mainly different" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to highlight key distinctions between subjects, indicating that while there might be similarities, the primary focus is on their differences. The phrase is commonly employed in scientific and news contexts to clarify specific points of divergence. When utilizing "mainly different", it is essential to provide context, specifying how the subjects differ to prevent vagueness. Alternatives like "primarily distinct" or "largely dissimilar" can offer similar nuances depending on the intended emphasis. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively use "mainly different" to convey precise meanings and enhance clarity in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily distinct

This alternative emphasizes the distinctness as the main characteristic, similar to "mainly different".

largely dissimilar

This phrase focuses on the dissimilarity being the major aspect, akin to highlighting the differences as primary.

chiefly varied

This alternative suggests the variations are the principal aspect, maintaining the core meaning.

mostly distinct

Focus is on distinct qualities as the main characteristic.

principally diverse

Highlights diversity as the main trait, similar to focusing on differences.

predominantly varied

This expresses that the variations are predominant.

substantially contrasting

This emphasizes a significant level of contrast as the main distinction.

markedly divergent

This highlights a clear divergence as the primary aspect, maintaining a high level of similarity.

essentially unlike

Focuses on the fundamental dissimilarity, similar to highlighting key differences.

noticeably disparate

This focuses on the obvious disparity between the items.

FAQs

How can I use "mainly different" in a sentence?

Use "mainly different" to indicate that the primary distinctions between two or more things lie in specific areas. For example: "The two approaches are "mainly different" in their implementation and scope".

What are some alternatives to "mainly different"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily distinct", "largely dissimilar", or "chiefly varied" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "primarily different" instead of "mainly different"?

Yes, "primarily different" is a correct and suitable alternative. Both phrases convey the idea that the key differences are the most important aspect to consider.

What is the difference between "mainly different" and "slightly different"?

"Mainly different" suggests significant and key distinctions, while "slightly different" indicates minor variations. The choice depends on the degree of dissimilarity you want to emphasize.