primarily about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the main focus or subject of a discussion, text, or piece of work. Example: "The book is primarily about the impact of climate change on coastal cities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unbounce is primarily about testing out landing pages, though.

Huffington Post

Hollywood is primarily about entertainment.

The New York Times

The emotion is primarily about innocence.

The New York Times - Arts

Is the second line primarily about money?

The New York Times

Consent decrees are primarily about pragmatism".

The Economist

Is the piece primarily about sculpture?

The New York Times - Arts

"It was primarily about New York City".

The New York Times

We talked primarily about courage.

The Guardian

They worry primarily about implementation.

The New York Times

Isn't fashion primarily about, er, clothing?

The New York Times - Style

Cameronism is primarily about shrinking the state.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primarily about", ensure that the rest of your sentence provides specific details about that primary focus to avoid vagueness.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily about" when the subject has multiple equally important aspects; instead, consider a more inclusive phrase like "also involves" or "encompasses".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily about" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It specifies the main subject or focus of something, as shown in the Ludwig examples. The use of "primarily" indicates that while there may be other aspects, the stated subject is the most important.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "primarily about" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the main focus or subject of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usability. It is most frequently found in news and media, but is also appropriate for scientific and formal/business contexts. While alternatives such as "mainly about" or "chiefly about" can be used, "primarily about" provides a clear and direct way to specify the most important aspect of a topic. When using the phrase, ensure that the subsequent details align with and support the identified primary focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly about

Indicates a slight shift in emphasis, suggesting 'mainly' as opposed to solely.

largely about

Highlights the extent or degree to which something is the focus.

chiefly about

Emphasizes the principal or most important aspect.

mostly about

Similar to 'mainly' but can suggest a greater proportion.

principally about

A more formal alternative emphasizing the core element.

essentially about

Focuses on the fundamental nature or essence of the subject.

primarily concerned with

Shifts the focus to concern or relevance rather than the subject itself.

focused on

Indicates a deliberate concentration on a specific topic.

centered around

Suggests that something is organized or structured around a central theme.

concerned chiefly with

Highlights the area of main interest or worry.

FAQs

What does "primarily about" mean?

The phrase "primarily about" indicates the main topic, subject, or focus of something. It highlights what is most important or central.

How can I use "primarily about" in a sentence?

You can use "primarily about" to specify the main subject of a book, movie, discussion, or any other topic. For example, "The movie is "primarily about" the challenges of climate change".

What can I say instead of "primarily about"?

You can use alternatives like "mainly about", "largely about", or "chiefly about" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "primarily about"?

Yes, "primarily about" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English to indicate the main subject or focus.