mainly on weekends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly on weekends" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs primarily during the weekend days, as opposed to weekdays. Example: "I prefer to do my grocery shopping mainly on weekends when I have more free time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

I am an avid runner, mainly on weekends.

The New York Times

Ninety percent of them are family picnics, held mainly on weekends.

The New York Times

The initiative, which pays narcotics officers to work overtime to make arrests, mainly on weekends, has generated 10,000 additional arrests since it started on Jan . 17

The New York Times

Corporate America's elite top managers, not to mention the road warriors who see their families mainly on weekends, as well as thousands of others on lower rungs of the corporate ladder, played the "What's Your Number?" game, too.

The New York Times

What he does want to do, even now, is comedy: he performs about a hundred times a year, mainly on weekends, following an itinerary that often leads him into what promoters call tertiary markets, where fans are not just happy to be able to see him in person but surprised, too.

The New Yorker

His life in Europe is also divided about equally between an airy apartment in North London, which he occupies mainly on weekends with his wife, the artist Madelon Vriesendorp, and a workweek centered on his Rotterdam office and often shared with his other female companion, Petra Blaisse, an Amsterdam-based designer of interiors and gardens.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The doctors will be mainly focused on weekends when community GP surgeries are closed.

BBC

Braca estimates that her naps last two to four hours, and mainly occur on weekends when she isn't working.

Huffington Post

Snowshoes Along a Canal The Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, between Cleveland and Akron, was created only 25 years ago, and its winter programs, mainly on the weekends, have been steadily increasing over the last five to eight years, according to Karen Kopchak, the chief interpreter.

The New York Times - Travel

Thus, it may be the case that the risk of diabetes associated with heavy alcohol consumption is due to consumption mainly on the weekend as opposed to the same amount spread over a week.

Diabetes Care

The shop reopened but is open only on weekends, mainly to sell off its remaining merchandise.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mainly on weekends", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the main activity or focus is. For example, "The park is less crowded mainly on weekends, making it ideal for a quiet stroll."

Common error

Avoid using "mainly on weekends" when the activity actually happens exclusively on weekends. Instead of "The shop is open mainly on weekends", say "The shop is only open on weekends" if that's the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly on weekends" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something primarily occurs. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mainly on weekends" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier to indicate the primary time frame of an event or activity, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While applicable in formal contexts, its register is generally neutral and it appears more frequently in news and media sources, as well as in scientific contexts. Remember to use this phrase when you want to highlight that something predominantly occurs during the weekend, avoiding its use when an activity happens exclusively on weekends. Consider alternatives such as "mostly on weekends" or "primarily on weekends" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly on weekends

Replaces "mainly" with "mostly", offering a synonym with nearly identical meaning.

primarily on weekends

Substitutes "mainly" with "primarily", suggesting a slightly more formal tone but retaining semantic equivalence.

largely on weekends

Employs "largely" instead of "mainly", indicating a significant portion of the activity happens on weekends.

typically on weekends

Uses "typically" in place of "mainly", highlighting that weekends are the usual time for the activity.

generally on weekends

Replaces "mainly" with "generally", implying that the activity commonly occurs on weekends.

often on weekends

Changes "mainly" to "often", suggesting a frequent but not necessarily dominant occurrence on weekends.

frequently on weekends

Substitutes "mainly" with "frequently", indicating a recurring presence on weekends.

usually on weekends

Uses "usually" instead of "mainly", conveying that weekends are the normal time for the activity.

mostly during weekends

Changes "on" to "during", only changing the preposition.

primarily during the weekend

A more verbose rephrasing using "primarily" and "during the weekend", slightly shifting the focus.

FAQs

What does "mainly on weekends" mean?

The phrase "mainly on weekends" means that something happens primarily during the weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) as opposed to weekdays (Monday through Friday).

How can I use "mainly on weekends" in a sentence?

You can use "mainly on weekends" to describe when an activity or event most commonly occurs. For example, "I do my grocery shopping "mainly on weekends" because I have more free time then."

What can I say instead of "mainly on weekends"?

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

Is it grammatically correct to say "mainly on weekends"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "mainly on weekends". The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is commonly used in both written and spoken English.