mainly the ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly the ones" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific subset of items or people that are primarily being discussed or focused on. Example: "In our survey, we received feedback from various participants, but we are mainly the ones who provided detailed responses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The people who attacked "Le Conflit" were mainly the ones whom Badinter had attacked in it.

The New Yorker

Half the students weren't there — mainly the ones from the center of the country — but the other half, those living in Beersheeba itself, showed up.

The New York Times - Magazine

Hard-core movie fans primed by trailers, trade magazines, word-of-mouth and the industry's marketing muscle are mainly the ones who go to see films as soon as they open.

The Economist

That didn't stop the Soviet Union having friends in Muslim countries, albeit mainly the ones under secular rule.For a couple of years after 9/11, a different triangle seemed to emerge.

The Economist

It was shown that the Brönsted zeolitic acid sites, mainly the ones of higher strength, are responsible for the high cracking activity of the heavy paraffinic feed, while the Lewis acid sites contributed to a lesser extent.

Catalysis Today

It has been studied for about three decades and has surpassed conventional approaches in robotics applications, mainly the ones where real-time constraints make it necessary to utilize resource-economic image representations and processing methodologies.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

What followed was a flurry of headlines about some of his misogynistic song lyrics, mainly the one addressing Taylor Swift. .

Huffington Post

Although mother is mainly the one who punishes (69%), this role is, however, taken by a certain percentage of fathers (21%).

Unicef

Mutation of the −210 and −147 sites separately decreased the activity of the promoter, mainly the one triggered by OS alone.

Cell Death and Differentiation

In the particular case of C. cedri, B. aphidicola would then have experienced even greater losses deriving from this constant association, mainly the one rendering it unable to supply the EAA tryptophan (Gosalbes et al. 2008).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Here are a few examples-mainly, the ones where Microsoft was caught: In 1998, the Los Angeles Times reported that Microsoft, during its antitrust trials, hired PR companies to flood newspapers with fake letters of support, bearing ordinary individuals' names but actually written by Microsoft PR staff.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mainly the ones", ensure it's followed by a relative clause or phrase that specifies the characteristics or conditions that define the subset you're referring to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Don't use "mainly the ones" without clear context. If the reader can't easily identify which items you're referring to, the phrase becomes vague and loses its effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly the ones" functions as a qualifier, specifying a particular subset within a larger group. It singles out specific items or individuals that are of primary focus or relevance. As Ludwig AI shows, this expression appears in various contexts to highlight a particular selection.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mainly the ones" is a versatile phrase employed to specify a subset within a larger group, functioning as a qualifier to highlight particular items or individuals. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, with a neutral tone. Its frequent use in scientific and news media reflects its broad applicability. While alternatives such as "mostly the ones" and "primarily the ones" exist, the choice depends on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by providing sufficient context to avoid ambiguity and enhance its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly the ones

Replaces "mainly" with "mostly", offering a very close synonym with minimal semantic shift.

primarily the ones

Substitutes "mainly" with "primarily", indicating the most important or common ones.

chiefly the ones

Uses "chiefly" instead of "mainly", suggesting the principal or leading ones.

principally the ones

Replaces "mainly" with "principally", emphasizing the fundamental or primary aspect.

largely the ones

Replaces "mainly" with "largely", highlighting the predominant portion.

predominantly the ones

Substitutes "mainly" with "predominantly", indicating a greater prevalence.

generally the ones

Uses "generally" instead of "mainly", suggesting a common but not necessarily exclusive selection.

typically the ones

Replaces "mainly" with "typically", indicating what is normal or usual.

mostly those

Simplifies the phrase by omitting "the ones", focusing on a direct specification of "those".

primarily those

Emphasizes the selection of "those" as being of primary importance, removing "the ones" for brevity.

FAQs

How can I use "mainly the ones" in a sentence?

Use "mainly the ones" to specify a subset of items or people from a larger group. For example: "The issues affected the larger cities, "mainly the ones" with older infrastructure".

What phrases are similar to "mainly the ones"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "mostly the ones", "primarily the ones", or "chiefly the ones", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

Is it correct to say "mainly those" instead of "mainly the ones"?

Yes, "mainly those" is a correct and more concise alternative to "mainly the ones". It directly refers to a specific group without additional words, but keep in mind the context in which you are using it.

What is the difference between "mainly the ones" and "especially the ones"?

"Mainly the ones" indicates a primary subset, while "especially the ones" emphasizes particular items within that subset that are noteworthy or significant.