primarily like

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily like" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is mostly similar to another thing, often in a comparative context. Example: "The new software is primarily like the previous version, with a few enhancements and bug fixes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In the beginning, Kickstarter seemed primarily like a venue for upstart bands or small theater companies to raise a few thousand dollars to get projects off the ground.

The New York Times - Magazine

But more than that, it's good to know that in the too-hip-for-you meatpacking district, where restaurants seem primarily like stage sets for posing with cigarettes, somebody is remembering to provide moderately priced lunches that actually taste great.

The New York Times - Food

According to the simulation results, the Padež stream catchment behaves primarily like a deeper subsurface storage-dependent system during most of the hydrological conditions.

Journal of Hydrology

The first is the unimodal response of the second mode and behaves primarily like a hard non-linear single-degree-of-freedom system.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

As we suggested at the time, Amazon's purchase of the 3D body model startup looks primarily like a talent-based acquihire — to bring Black's visual systems' expertise into the fold.

TechCrunch

One guy wore a shirt that said: "NO ISLAM IN EUROPE!" As Valev strutted up to the podium and began his speech, it occurred to me that migrant hunting for him seemed primarily like a kind of sport rather than a real political or ideological commitment one that, however cruelly, fit into his concept of Bulgarian patriotism and was reaffirmed with widespread fame and respect.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

While 35percentt of all respondents say they have primarily like-minded friends, 63percentt of that conservative group lives in what Pew calls an ideological echo chamber.

Huffington Post

GH may act directly on tissues, but much of its effect is mediated by stimulation of the liver and other tissues to produce and release insulin-like growth factors, primarily insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1; formerly called somatomedin).

Encyclopedia Britannica

So now we fast-forward thirty years, and games are primarily story-like experiences organized around the successful achievement of goals.

The New Yorker

This work considers the effect that damage has upon the higher order derivatives of mode shapes of structures having primarily beam-like vibration.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Similar to adults, the SVR rates were significantly higher in children with genotype 2 or 3 compared to genotype 1. Adverse effects were primarily flu-like symptoms and neutropenia.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "primarily like" when you want to emphasize the main way in which two things are similar, acknowledging that there might be other, less significant differences.

Common error

In formal or scientific writing, avoid overusing "primarily like". Opt for more precise language to clarify the specific aspects of similarity or resemblance. For example, instead of saying "the effect is primarily like X", specify which characteristics are similar, such as "the effect shares the same intensity as X" or "the effect mimics the duration observed in X".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily like" functions as a comparative qualifier, indicating that something shares key characteristics with another entity, but isn't a perfect match. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in English, as shown by the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

10%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primarily like" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for indicating that something is mostly similar to something else, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's categorized as a phrase and sees common usage in contexts such as News & Media and Science. While the phrase is correct and frequently used, remember to use more specific vocabulary in formal writing in order to convey subtle differences between the options available. It is recommended to replace "primarily like" with alternatives such as "mostly similar to" or "mainly as" to add variety in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamentally like

Highlights the core aspects are shared, even if details differ.

principally akin to

Similar to "primarily like" but uses 'akin' which suggests a natural similarity.

mostly similar to

Directly indicates a high degree of similarity with some differences.

chiefly resembling

Emphasizes the dominant characteristic of resemblance.

essentially similar to

Points out the fundamental similarities, despite possible superficial differences.

mainly as

Focuses on the main purpose or role, shifting from resemblance to function.

mostly of the nature of

Focuses on the kind or essential qualities that are shared.

largely analogous to

Highlights a strong correspondence in function or appearance, more formal.

mainly reminiscent of

Suggests similarity based on evoking memories or associations.

primarily in the manner of

Highlights similarity in method or style rather than overall character.

FAQs

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

You can use "primarily like" to indicate that something is mostly similar to something else. For example: "The new model is primarily like the old one, but with a few minor improvements."

What are some alternatives to "primarily like"?

Some alternatives include "mostly similar to", "mainly as", or "principally akin to" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "primarily like" in formal writing?

Yes, "primarily like" is grammatically correct, but consider using more precise language in very formal or scientific contexts to specify the exact nature of the similarity.

What is the difference between "primarily like" and "exactly like"?

"Primarily like" suggests a strong resemblance with some differences, while "exactly like" implies a perfect or complete similarity. If you want to emphasize that the subject are almost identical, prefer to use "exactly like".