mainly to blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly to blame" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something is primarily responsible for a negative situation or outcome. Example: The company's failure was mainly to blame on the CEO's poor leadership and decision-making.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

The manufacturers are mainly to blame.

The New Yorker

And video games are mainly to blame.

The New York Times - Arts

Abba is mainly to blame.

The Guardian

Alaska's fisheries officials say climate change is mainly to blame.

The Economist

At trial, Wright contended that internal mismanagement was mainly to blame for the soured investments.

The New York Times - Sports

The report said samples including too many Labour voters appeared mainly to blame for the errors.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

But the cities have mainly themselves to blame.

The Economist

S. I. Newhouse IV, 23, the grandson of the Condé Nast chairman, S. I. Newhouse Jr., said that if people come off badly in the film they have mainly themselves to blame.

The New York Times - Style

And the bank has mainly itself to blame for it.In this section Passing the baton Flying cars The high price of togetherness Anyone for Schadenfreude?

The Economist

Michael V. O'Hare, the bookkeeper to Senator Thomas J. Dodd of Connecticut whom the senator mainly held to blame — calling him "a liar and a forger and a thief" — in a case that ultimately led the Senate to censure Mr. Dodd in 1967, died March 15 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The New York Times

PAGE A15 Obituaries MICHAEL V. O'HARE, 73 He was the bookkeeper to Senator Thomas J. Dodd of Connecticut whom the senator mainly held to blame -- calling him "a liar and a forger and a thief" -- in a case that ultimately led the Senate to censure Mr. Dodd in 1967.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the impact of your message, use "mainly to blame" when other minor contributing factors are present, thus focusing the reader on the most significant cause.

Common error

Avoid using "mainly to blame" without providing credible evidence or reasoning to support your claim. Unsubstantiated accusations can weaken your argument and damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly to blame" functions as an attributive phrase, assigning primary responsibility for a specific event or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mainly to blame" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression for attributing primary responsibility for a negative situation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and offers numerous examples across various contexts. While alternative phrases exist, such as "primarily responsible" or "largely accountable", "mainly to blame" remains a clear and effective way to assign blame or identify the primary cause. Its frequency is very common, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure your claims are supported by evidence to avoid unsubstantiated accusations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily responsible

Focuses on the responsibility aspect, similar to blaming.

principally responsible

Highlights the principal role in causing something.

largely accountable

Highlights the accountability for something negative.

chiefly responsible

Emphasizes the leading role in causing the issue.

mostly at fault

Directly indicates who is considered guilty or responsible.

primarily at fault

Similar to "mostly at fault" but with a stronger emphasis.

majorly responsible

Informal expression that emphasizes the big responsability for a negative situation.

primarily liable

Focuses on legal liability for the negative outcome.

accountable to a great extent

More formal and emphasizes the degree of accountability.

bears the brunt of the blame

Indicates who receives the most blame or criticism.

FAQs

What does "mainly to blame" mean?

The phrase "mainly to blame" indicates that someone or something is the primary cause or is largely responsible for a negative situation or outcome. It suggests that while other factors might have contributed, the identified cause is the most significant.

How can I use "mainly to blame" in a sentence?

You can use "mainly to blame" to attribute responsibility for a problem or failure. For example: "The project's delay was "mainly to blame" on poor planning."

What are some alternatives to "mainly to blame"?

Alternatives include "primarily responsible", "largely accountable", or "chiefly responsible", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "mainly to blame", or should I use another phrase?

The phrase "mainly to blame" is grammatically correct and commonly used. However, you can choose a synonym like "mostly at fault" or "primarily liable" to vary your language or to better suit the specific context.