major use of

USAGE SUMMARY

"major use of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the primary purpose or primary application of something. For example: "The major use of the device is to measure and monitor air temperature."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But each burger is a result of a major use of natural resources.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The major use of gypsum is for the manufacture of plaster of paris.

Britannica

The major use of chloroform is in the preparation of chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Jester, with about 500 inmates, reported major use of force 900 times.

The New York Times - Health

The other major use of snips is in tracing the genetic variations that contribute to health and disease.

The New York Times - Science

Most nitrates are soluble in water, and a major use of nitric acid is to produce soluble metal nitrates.

Britannica

The first major use of vacuum technology in industry occurred about 1900 in the manufacture of electric light bulbs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

It also would have made available investigations of officer-involved shootings and other major use-of-force cases.

Los Angeles Times

It also would have made available investigations of officer-involved shootings and other major use-of-force cases.

Los Angeles Times

That's why another major use of tubes of the stuff is in chemicals plants.

Forbes

A major use of results from subgroup analysis is to generate hypothesis for future clinical trials.

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider specifying the context or field in which the "major use of" something applies. For example, "In medicine, a major use of X is...".

Common error

Avoid using "major use of" without providing specific details about the application. For instance, stating "A major use of technology is in communication" is too broad. Instead, specify the technology and the context: "A major use of smartphones is in facilitating instant messaging".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major use of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It identifies the principal application or purpose of something, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

26%

Encyclopedias

18%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "major use of" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed noun phrase that serves to highlight the principal application or purpose of something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is common across diverse contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedia sources. While it maintains a neutral to formal register, it's important to provide specific details regarding the application to avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives such as "primary application of", "main function of", and "principal role of" can be used to convey similar meanings depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary application of

Replaces "major use" with "primary application", emphasizing the main practical application.

main function of

Substitutes "major use" with "main function", highlighting the principal purpose or activity.

principal role of

Replaces "major use" with "principal role", underscoring the most important function or part.

key application of

Substitutes "major use" with "key application", emphasizing the most important practical application.

primary purpose of

Replaces "major use" with "primary purpose", focusing on the main reason or intention.

chief function of

Substitutes "major use" with "chief function", highlighting the most important or dominant function.

main utilization of

Replaces "major use" with "main utilization", emphasizing the principal way something is used.

primary employment of

Substitutes "major use" with "primary employment", highlighting the main way something is employed or utilized.

significant application of

Replaces "major use" with "significant application", emphasizing the considerable or notable practical application.

principal employment of

Substitutes "major use" with "principal employment", underscoring the most important way something is utilized.

FAQs

How can I use "major use of" in a sentence?

You can use "major use of" to indicate the primary application or purpose of something. For example, "A major use of solar energy is in powering residential homes".

What's a good alternative to "major use of"?

Alternatives include "primary application of", "main function of", or "principal role of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "major use of" or "primary use of"?

Both "major use of" and "primary use of" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, though "primary use of" might emphasize the importance of the use, while "major use of" highlights its scale or extent.

What's the difference between "major use of" and "common use of"?

"Major use of" implies a primary or dominant application, whereas "common use of" simply means it is frequently applied, even if not the most important or significant one.