mainly to blame for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainly to blame for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is primarily responsible for a particular issue or problem. Example: "The lack of funding is mainly to blame for the project's delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

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

So their key argument is striking: the Republican Party is mainly to blame for what's wrong with Washington.

The New York Times - Books

Steve Kavanagh, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said that "really inflamatory, inaccurate" messages on Twitter were mainly to blame for the disorder.

The Guardian

Traffic and other emissions from local sources were mainly to blame for this week's dirty air, with only light winds to disperse them and air from the continent bringing further pollutants.

The Guardian

Reverberations from that trial are mainly to blame for the 500 Bangladeshis who were killed in political violence in 2013, the worst annual toll since independence.It does not help the BNP's case that their most recent stint in power made the country look like a kleptocracy.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Miserable market timing was mainly to blame, as it was for folks in fixed income funds, where per-annum returns were just 0.10%, versus a 3.25% return for the benchmark.

Forbes

Abba is mainly to blame.

The Guardian

The manufacturers are mainly to blame.

The New Yorker

And video games are mainly to blame.

The New York Times - Arts

Wall Street is mainly to blame.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "mainly to blame for", ensure that the context clearly supports the assignment of primary responsibility. Avoid using it in situations where the cause is multifactorial and assigning blame to one element would be misleading.

Common error

Avoid using "mainly to blame for" when there are multiple contributing factors. Instead, acknowledge the complexity of the situation by saying something like 'contributed significantly to' or 'played a major role in'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainly to blame for" functions as a causal attribution, pointing out the primary cause or source of responsibility for a particular situation or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mainly to blame for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the primary cause or responsibility for something. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable for use in written English. It is most frequently used in news and media contexts and can be effectively utilized across various writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure the context supports the assignment of primary responsibility. Alternative phrases such as "primarily responsible for" or "largely accountable for" can provide subtle shifts in emphasis while maintaining a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Predominantly to blame for

Highlights the main factor to blame.

Primarily responsible for

Focuses on the aspect of responsibility rather than placing blame.

Largely accountable for

Emphasizes accountability and the expectation of answering for the consequences.

Principally responsible for

Similar to 'chiefly responsible' but can imply a more formal or official role.

Chiefly responsible for

Highlights the main person or thing at fault.

Mostly at fault for

Directly assigns fault or error as the primary cause.

Substantially responsible for

Emphasizes the significant degree of responsibility.

The main cause of

Shifts the focus from blame to identifying the primary cause of an event.

The primary reason for

Focuses on identifying the key reason something happened, instead of assigning blame.

The principal factor in

Emphasizes the role of a factor rather than direct responsibility.

FAQs

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

Use "mainly to blame for" to indicate the primary cause or reason for a negative outcome. For instance, "The company's financial struggles are mainly to blame for the recent layoffs".

What are some alternatives to "mainly to blame for"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily responsible for", "largely accountable for", or "chiefly responsible for" to express a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "mainly to blame for" in formal writing?

Yes, "mainly to blame for" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, but ensure that your tone remains objective and evidence-based, particularly in formal contexts.

What's the difference between "mainly to blame for" and "partly to blame for"?

"Mainly to blame for" indicates primary responsibility, while "partly to blame for" suggests a shared responsibility. Use "partly to blame for" when the cause is attributable to multiple sources.