primarily different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily different" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is mainly or mostly distinct from something else. Example: "The two species are primarily different in their mating rituals and feeding habits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Differences between care units concerned primarily different prescribing traditions at different units.

BMC Family Practice

"Although our goals, services and programs are similar to the Y's, we do not view them competitively because the communities we target are primarily different," said Avi Lewinson, the executive director of the Palisades J.C.C.

The New York Times

The capacities of the diesel engines are primarily different in all cases.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Primarily, different carbon and nitrogen sources were screened by classical methods, which revealed sucrose and NaNO3 to be the most suitable.

Free Radicals and Antioxidants

Unlike helium, the retained hydrogen levels are somewhat sensitive to composition, reflecting primarily different levels of diffusional loss, but hydrogen is still retained at rather high concentrations, allowing a lower bound estimate of the hydrogen generation rates.

Journal of Nuclear Materials

A few brain areas, the fusiform gyrus (FG), middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), emerged to be primarily different in their morphology between the two groups.

Neuropsychologia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Different genomic regions primarily contain different structural classes of predicted secondary structures.

Plosone

The study has primarily utilized different remotely sensed imagery from different sources which are described as follows.

Environmental Systems Research

We demonstrate that the dissimilar results stem primarily from different choice of probe measures, rather than other factors.

BMC Genomics

But his strong differences with progressives derive primarily from different views about our precise economic situation and the indirect effects of various governmental programs.

The New York Times

To summarize, our study shows that despite structural similarity of the KCNE1 and KCNE2 family members that they associate differentially with HERG due primarily to different trafficking rates and characteristics rather than different affinities for the channel.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primarily different", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being compared and in what main aspects they differ. This helps to avoid ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily different" when the differences are multifaceted and not easily reducible to one primary aspect. In such cases, a more nuanced description may be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily different" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, serving to qualify the extent and nature of the difference between two or more entities. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in academic and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "primarily different" serves to emphasize the main distinctions between subjects while acknowledging potential similarities. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and frequently used across various domains including Science and News & Media. When writing with "primarily different", ensure clarity in the comparison and avoid overstating the difference if it's multifaceted. Alternative phrases like "mainly distinct" or "largely dissimilar" can be used to add nuance. Overall, "primarily different" is a useful tool for precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly distinct

Focuses on the main aspect of distinction, similar to "primarily different".

chiefly distinct

Highlights the principal area of distinction.

largely dissimilar

Emphasizes the degree of dissimilarity rather than the primary aspect.

principally varying

Indicates that the main variation lies in certain aspects.

distinct in essence

Indicates the differences are at the core of the subjects being compared.

essentially diverse

Suggests a fundamental diversity as the primary difference.

fundamentally unlike

Stresses the basic dissimilarity as the primary difference.

predominantly contrasting

Emphasizes the contrasting nature as the main difference.

markedly divergent

Highlights a significant divergence as the primary distinction.

substantially disparate

Focuses on the considerable disparity as the primary difference.

FAQs

What does "primarily different" mean?

The phrase "primarily different" means that two or more things are mainly or chiefly distinct from each other in specific ways. The differences are focused on certain aspects.

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

You can use "primarily different" to point out the main distinctions between subjects. For example: "The two species are "primarily different" in their mating rituals."

What are some alternatives to "primarily different"?

Alternatives include "mainly distinct", "largely dissimilar", or "chiefly distinct", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "primarily different" or "completely different"?

The choice depends on the context. "Completely different" suggests no similarities at all, while "primarily different" indicates that the main or chief differences are notable, but there might be some overlap in other aspects.