primarily driven by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily driven by" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is mostly or primarily caused by a particular thing or factor. For example: "The improvements in academic performance were primarily driven by the school's new tutoring program."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Was it primarily driven by Wall Street greed?

The New Yorker

This is primarily driven by lower expected receipts, due to our weaker economic forecast.

The Guardian

But that is the reality, and it is primarily driven by commercial calculations.

The New Yorker

But I do believe we should be above median, primarily driven by our management fees".

The New York Times

Ironically, Sarkozy still lacks a real political platform, primarily driven by opposition to Hollande.

The Guardian

Profit margin is primarily driven by revenues and the mix of product sold during the quarter.

The New York Times

The Redick trade, like many deals (and nondeals) Thursday, was primarily driven by money.

The New York Times - Sports

Nonrecurrent storms occur sporadically throughout the solar rotation but are primarily driven by CMEs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Well, the Ryan phenomenon wasn't primarily driven by the hard right, which has plenty of heroes.

The New York Times

It's primarily driven by customer requests.

Forbes

We have a software service business, primarily driven by recruiting.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primarily driven by", ensure that the factor you are highlighting is indeed the most significant influence, not just a contributing element. Quantify the extent of influence where possible to strengthen your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily driven by" when multiple factors significantly contribute to an outcome. If several elements play nearly equal roles, consider phrases that reflect shared influence, rather than singling out one as dominant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily driven by" functions as a causal connector, linking an effect or outcome to its main cause. As Ludwig AI explains, it emphasizes that a particular factor is the most significant influence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "primarily driven by" is a correct and common way to express that something is mainly caused or influenced by a particular factor. Ludwig AI confirms this and Ludwig examples demonstrate its wide use across diverse contexts, including science, news, and business. When using the phrase, make sure that the factor you're highlighting is truly the most significant. While it is versatile across writing styles, it is best suited for neutral to formal registers. Related phrases like "mainly caused by" or "largely influenced by" can provide alternative ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly caused by

Replaces "primarily driven" with "mainly caused", emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship.

primarily resulting from

Focuses on the outcome as a result of the primary factor.

largely influenced by

Substitutes "driven by" with "influenced by", highlighting the impact rather than direct causation.

chiefly determined by

Emphasizes the aspect of determination, indicating that the factor is the main determinant.

predominantly shaped by

Emphasizes the formative influence of the factor on the effect.

mostly attributable to

Highlights that the effect can be assigned or credited to the specific factor.

largely a consequence of

Positions the effect as a substantial outcome of the factor.

fundamentally based on

Indicates that the effect is deeply rooted or reliant on the specific factor.

principally originating from

Emphasizes the origin or source of the effect.

essentially stemming from

Highlights the root cause or origin of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "primarily driven by" in a sentence?

You can use "primarily driven by" to indicate the main cause or influence of something. For example, "The company's growth was primarily driven by increased online sales."

What are some alternatives to "primarily driven by"?

Alternatives include "mainly caused by", "largely influenced by", or "chiefly determined by", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "primarily drive by" instead of "primarily driven by"?

No, the correct form is "primarily driven by". "Driven" is the past participle, which is needed to form the passive voice construction.

What's the difference between "primarily driven by" and "partially driven by"?

"Primarily driven by" indicates the main cause, while "partially driven by" suggests one of several contributing factors. Use "primarily" when one factor is significantly more influential than others.