primarily good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is mostly positive or beneficial, while acknowledging that there may be some negative aspects. Example: "The feedback we received from the clients was primarily good, highlighting our strengths in customer service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's primarily good for project planning and tinkering with data.

TechCrunch

A number of studies have shown primarily good outcomes in patients whose abscess is drained regardless of the antibiotics administered [ 43, 44].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He is also a history painter whose multicultural images of primarily good-looking men recall the work of old masters like Rubens and Jacques-Louis David.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather than being primarily about good and evil, she said, "I think a lot of fantasy is an exploration of what power is".

The New York Times

ABC News executives said that she would report primarily for "Good Morning America," but that she would also contribute to other ABC News programs.

The New York Times

Survival in wind is perhaps primarily about good footwork and making quick adjustments, which would seem to be an area in which Murray would have an advantage.

The New York Times

The fashion retail industry has shifted from an autonomous, primarily soft good product and service orientation in TCE, to integrated retailing concepts across global venues such as communication, entertainment, and transportation in GCE.

Fashion and Textiles

The Nitrate Directive is one of the main policies to reduce nitrate leaching from agriculture primarily through good agricultural practise and the application of organic and mineral fertilizers according to regulations (Velthof et al. 2014).

Applied Water Science

Concerned about the potential risk of late patellofemoral osteoarthritis, many authors have considered the trochleoplasty procedure primarily a good salvage option for patients with unsuccessful previous surgery, in which the severely dysplastic trochlea remains the main pathologic factor (Balcarek et al. 2016).

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Teachers unions are made up primarily of good teachers.

Huffington Post

Which is primarily throwing good money after bad".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primarily good", consider specifying the areas where the subject excels to provide a clearer understanding of its strengths. For example, instead of just saying 'the project was primarily good', you could specify 'the project was primarily good in terms of its innovative design and user interface'.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily good" as a vague or overly broad assessment. Always ensure there are specific, justifiable reasons for deeming something as such; otherwise, it comes across as unsubstantiated praise or an incomplete evaluation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily good" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun by indicating that its dominant characteristic is positive. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, highlighting its role in expressing a generally favorable assessment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primarily good" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something that is mostly positive, but not perfect. Ludwig AI affirms its appropriateness in various contexts. It serves to convey an overall favorable assessment while acknowledging potential imperfections. To ensure effective communication, specifying the areas of strength when using "primarily good" helps to provide clarity. Alternatives such as "mostly positive" or "largely beneficial" offer similar meanings. While generally neutral in tone, it can be adapted to professional and academic settings. Remember to avoid overgeneralization and provide specific reasons for the assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly positive

Focuses on the overall positive nature, emphasizing the prevalence of positive aspects.

largely beneficial

Highlights the advantageous aspects, suggesting a significant degree of benefit.

generally favorable

Emphasizes an overall positive sentiment or outcome.

predominantly positive

Stresses the dominance of positive elements or qualities.

chiefly advantageous

Highlights the key benefits, suggesting that the main advantages are present.

mainly constructive

Focuses on the helpful or improving nature of something.

substantially effective

Indicates a significant level of effectiveness.

overwhelmingly positive

Suggests an extremely strong positive presence, almost to the exclusion of negative aspects.

significantly advantageous

Emphasizes the substantial benefits.

principally favorable

Similar to "primarily good", but offers a more formal tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "primarily good" to describe something that is mostly positive, but may have some minor drawbacks. For instance, "The feedback was primarily good, with only a few suggestions for minor improvements".

What's a more formal alternative to "primarily good"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "largely beneficial" or "predominantly positive", which convey a similar meaning but are suitable for professional contexts.

Is "primarily good" the same as "completely good"?

No, "primarily good" implies that something is mostly good, but not entirely without flaws or negative aspects. "Completely good" suggests perfection, while "primarily good" acknowledges some imperfections.

When is it appropriate to use "primarily good"?

It's appropriate to use "primarily good" when you want to highlight the positive aspects of something while being honest about the fact that it might not be perfect. It suggests a generally favorable outcome with some room for improvement.