primarily consist of

USAGE SUMMARY

"primarily consist of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that most of something is made up of specific components. For example: "This dish primarily consists of vegetables, with a few slices of chicken for added flavor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dwellings primarily consist of one room with a dirt floor and no chimney.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"By the time we're actually out there sailing, you'll see a much more balanced team that I would guess would primarily consist of Americans," Charlie McKee said.

The New York Times - Sports

The GQ interview was discredited by Avicii's camp, most notably the point where he was quoted as saying that the majority of his DJ sets primarily consist of "before work", a comment that caused a furore in the dance world.

The Guardian - Music

If you're like me, your exercise goals primarily consist of not looking like Jabba.

TechCrunch

In general, saturates are primarily consist of saturated alkanes and cycloalkanes.

Applied Petrochemical Research

Therefore, the tumor was believed to primarily consist of myxomatous components with a small solid region.

Surgical Case Reports

On the other hand, Quaternary sediments primarily consist of sag fill deposits in the AFB.

Petroleum Science

These primarily consist of informational support, and furthermore of instrumental and emotional support.

Comparative Migration Studies

Current clinical strategies dealing with these solid tumors primarily consist of surgical excision, irradiation, and chemotherapy.

Cancer Nanotechnology

TCH fills primarily consist of the Gw, Sh, Sp, Sw and Sm lithofacies (Fig. 7a f).

Petroleum Science

momo__de__tuInhui-daotherji-de__chuang-shang.

Lingua Sinica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primarily consist of", ensure that the listed components truly represent the majority of the subject, not just a significant portion. For example, "The Earth's atmosphere primarily consists of nitrogen and oxygen."

Common error

Avoid using "primarily consist of" if the listed components do not form a clear majority. Instead, use phrases like "includes" or "features" to indicate that the components are present but not necessarily dominant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily consist of" functions as a linking verb phrase to describe the composition of a subject. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates what elements or components make up the largest part of something. It helps to define the essential makeup of a thing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

27%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primarily consist of" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe the main components of something. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for a neutral register. With a wide range of applications, it appears most often in scientific and news contexts. When writing, be sure that the listed elements do, in fact, make up the majority of the subject. Keep in mind of other alternative phrases such as "mainly composed of", "largely comprised of", and "mostly made up of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily composed of

Changes "consist" to "compose", which maintains the meaning with a formal tone.

principally constitutes

Uses a different verb to express the same idea, providing a more formal phrasing.

mainly composed of

This alternative uses different wording to express the same concept of something being primarily made up of something else.

chiefly composed of

Highlights the main component, adding a degree of emphasis on the key element.

largely comprised of

Focuses on the components that make up the majority of the whole. Using "comprised" adds a slight shift in formality.

mostly made up of

More informal and direct, suitable for casual contexts.

are essentially based on

Highlights the fundamental elements and suggests that the whole concept depends on them.

fundamentally structured around

Suggests that the components form the basis of something's organization.

substantially built upon

Implies the main elements form a base that other things are added to.

is mainly a question of

Changes the construction to focus on a particular issue or aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "primarily consist of" in a sentence?

Use "primarily consist of" to indicate the main components that make up something. For example, "The committee "primarily comprises" members from the local community."

What are some alternatives to "primarily consist of"?

You can use alternatives like "mainly composed of", "largely comprised of", or "mostly made up of depending on the context.

What's the difference between "primarily consist of" and "partially consist of"?

"Primarily consist of" indicates that something is mostly made up of the specified components, while "partially consist of" means that the components are only some of what makes up the whole.

Is it correct to say "primarily consists of" instead of "primarily consist of"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "primarily consists of" with singular subjects (e.g., "The solution primarily consists of water"). Use "primarily consist of" with plural subjects (e.g., "The ingredients primarily consist of vegetables").