mainly her

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly her" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that the focus or primary subject of a statement or action is her, often in comparison to others. Example: "The project was a success, mainly her efforts that made it possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Mainly her age, I guess.

The New Yorker

"The Power" contains mainly her own words.

The New Yorker

Here, one sees Davis herself — mainly, her manicured hands.

The New Yorker

The conversation is mainly her answers to what she pretends she doesn't understand about American customs.

The New Yorker

She stocks mainly her own designs, many in black or white, all on-trend and priced at about $250.

The New York Times

Whereas, Blue's social life is made up of mainly her family, her mother and her friends, that live with her.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Similarly, infused minoxidil sulphate (MS) a selective K ATP) channel activator comes across the BTB to brain tumor and facilitates delivery of certain macromolecules mainly Her-2 antibody adenoviral-green florescent protein and carboplatin to brain tumors [ 22].

BioMed Research International

Since she's so weird, all the other kids start making fun of her, mainly about her red hair.

Vice

Her first feature, "My Dear Subject," from 1988, shows that this subject is family, and she reveals her originality mainly in her view of that subject.

The New Yorker

SARAH JAROSZ Now 22, this singer-songwriter has been celebrated as a roots-music prodigy since her teens, mainly for her proficiency on mandolin, banjo and guitar.

The New York Times - Arts

Ekaterina II differed from her sisters mainly in her 12 inches gun mounts.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mainly her", ensure that the context clearly establishes what 'her' refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For example, instead of "The success was mainly her", clarify with "The project's success was mainly her responsibility."

Common error

Avoid using "mainly her" when referring to something exclusively her. "Mainly" implies a degree of participation or influence among multiple factors. If it's solely her action or attribute, a more direct statement is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Modifier: "Mainly her" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or entire clause. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to highlight the primary source or influence. The examples in Ludwig show that it is often used to specify the key actor or element in a situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mainly her" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to emphasize the primary, but not necessarily exclusive, role or attribute of a female individual. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts. It is important to use it when referring to a primary influence or contribution, as using it when someone is the sole influence would not be an accurate fit. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is commonly found in news and media sources. Alternatives such as "primarily her" or "mostly her" can be used to convey subtle differences in emphasis or tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily her

Replaces "mainly" with "primarily", suggesting a slightly stronger emphasis on her involvement.

mostly her

Substitutes "mainly" with "mostly", indicating a slightly less formal tone.

largely her

Uses "largely" instead of "mainly", conveying a sense of significant but not exclusive involvement.

chiefly her

Replaces "mainly" with "chiefly", which is more formal and emphasizes her role as the principal one.

principally her

Similar to "chiefly", but slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech.

predominantly her

Indicates that her contribution or characteristic is more noticeable or powerful than others.

in large part, her

Adds a prepositional phrase for emphasis, changing the sentence structure slightly.

for the most part, her

Similar to "in large part", but provides a slightly different rhythmic feel.

to a great extent, her

Emphasizes the degree to which something is attributed to her.

her contribution was key

Completely restructures the sentence to highlight her key contribution.

FAQs

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

Use "mainly her" to indicate that someone's contribution, characteristic, or influence is the primary, but not necessarily exclusive, factor. For instance, "The success of the event was "mainly her" planning and execution."

What are some alternatives to using "mainly her"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily her", "mostly her", or "largely her" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "mainly her"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective, indicating the primary source or cause. The correctness is confirmed by several examples in Ludwig.

What's the difference between "mainly her" and "only her"?

"Mainly her" suggests she was the primary contributor among others, while "only her" indicates she was the sole contributor, with no other involvement.