mainly formal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly formal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a style, tone, or context that is predominantly formal in nature. Example: "The report is mainly formal, adhering to the standards expected in academic writing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Arts

Education

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In some, animated eyeballs rocket this way and that, but the impact is mainly formal.

The New York Times - Arts

It is supposed to symbolize architecture swept up and away by the winds of change, but its appeal is mainly formal (Johnson).

The New York Times - Arts

The Guardian way was more elegant than anyone else's but it was still mainly formal and the players were largely anonymous: they had surnames and perhaps initials but they rarely had personalities.

The Guardian - Sport

The engineer played by Ben Affleck, who is investigating pollution caused by a local oil-related facility, is the practical man, the Christian rationalist, a practicing Catholic whose practice appears mainly formal.

The New Yorker

The framework model of educational quality is fully utilized for mainly formal learning environments, such as ECEC.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

We also found that around 55% of the women had recently received internet training, with this training being mainly formal (73.6%) as opposed to informal (21.2%).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Does the course mainly use formal lectures, or smaller tutorial sessions?

The Guardian

Yet the best of his work – Seizure, for instance – gathers its strength mainly through formal qualities.

The Guardian - Arts

As it is difficult to predict the function of SC4, it has been included in Additional file 6 mainly for formal completeness.

BMC Genomics

All learnt English mainly through formal classroom instruction (four Chinese and four Europeans also learnt English at home) and all rated English as their most proficient foreign language.

Human Brain Mapping

That this relationship was stronger earlier in the course was unsurprising given the science-oriented nature of the bridging course and a Level 3 curriculum which is pre-clinical, science-oriented and assessed mainly by formal examinations.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mainly formal", ensure the context supports the idea that formality is the most prominent, but not necessarily exclusive, characteristic. Consider if a stronger term like "exclusively formal" is more appropriate if other aspects are completely absent.

Common error

Avoid using "mainly formal" when the context is clearly informal or neutral. This can create a confusing or contradictory impression. Ensure there are some elements of formality present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly formal" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the extent or degree to which something is formal. It indicates that formality is a primary characteristic but not necessarily the only one. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Arts

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mainly formal" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for describing something that is predominantly formal, while acknowledging the possible presence of other, less formal elements. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in academic, scientific, and news-related writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely reflects a primary sense of formality, avoiding its application in completely informal settings. Using alternatives like "primarily formal" or "largely formal" can add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily formal

Replaces "mainly" with "primarily", emphasizing the principal aspect of being formal.

largely formal

Substitutes "mainly" with "largely", suggesting a significant degree of formality.

mostly formal

Replaces "mainly" with "mostly", indicating that formality is the prevalent characteristic.

predominantly formal

Uses "predominantly" instead of "mainly", highlighting the dominant formal aspect.

chiefly formal

Substitutes "mainly" with "chiefly", emphasizing the principal reason of being formal.

generally formal

Employs "generally" instead of "mainly", conveying an overall formal nature.

principally formal

Replaces "mainly" with "principally", highlighting the principal reason of being formal.

substantially formal

Uses "substantially" instead of "mainly", implying a considerable degree of formality.

essentially formal

Replaces "mainly" with "essentially", indicating that formality is the core characteristic.

fundamentally formal

Substitutes "mainly" with "fundamentally", emphasizing the basic formal nature.

FAQs

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

You can use "mainly formal" to describe situations, styles, or procedures that are mostly formal but may contain some informal elements. For example, "The presentation was mainly formal, but the speaker added a few personal anecdotes."

What is a good alternative to "mainly formal"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "primarily formal", "largely formal", or "mostly formal" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "mainly formal" in informal writing?

While "mainly formal" is generally acceptable in various contexts, it might sound slightly out of place in very informal writing. Consider using a less formal phrase if the overall tone is casual.

What's the difference between "mainly formal" and "completely formal"?

"Mainly formal" suggests that the subject is mostly formal but might have some informal aspects. "Completely formal" indicates that there are no informal elements whatsoever. The choice depends on the presence or absence of informal elements in the subject being described.