primarily when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the main circumstances or conditions under which something occurs. Example: "The project is successful primarily when all team members collaborate effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Primarily, when you're in your car, the information you want is kind of vehicle-centric.

The New York Times

Problems tend to arise primarily when populations become so dense as to cause overcrowding.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bullock says the crossing is used primarily, when at all, by occasional ramblers and rail enthusiasts.

The Guardian

According to the Physician's Desk Reference, such side effects occur primarily when patients take too much Dilantin.

The New York Times

She said the F.D.A. had traditionally inspected egg farms primarily when they were linked to an outbreak.

The New York Times

You'll feel the speed primarily when copying stuff between computers — moving big files, say, or streaming video from one PC to another.

The New York Times - Tech

But over the years, research showed that the disease occurred primarily when the currants were near the trees and also in moist areas.

The New York Times

Trucks make up less than 5% of London traffic but are involved in more than 50% of cyclist deaths, primarily when a lorry turns left over a cyclist.

The Guardian

Ads appear in fewer than half of my messages; in fact, they seem to appear primarily when a capitalized brand name appears in the message.

The New York Times - Tech

Then there are the more serious activities used primarily when big-money commercial interests are threatened, such as the infiltration of opposition groups, otherwise known as spying.

The Guardian

Some females might have periods in their life when they get "slap-happy", primarily when socialising, maybe when attention seeking, usually when drunk (guilty!).

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "primarily when" to clearly indicate the main condition or circumstance under which something occurs, avoiding ambiguity about its frequency or importance.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily when" repeatedly in a short span of text. Vary your sentence structure and use alternative phrases like "mainly when" or "chiefly when" to maintain reader engagement and avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily when" functions as a conjunction phrase that introduces a condition or circumstance under which something mainly occurs. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it links a primary condition to a resulting action or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "primarily when" is a conjunction phrase used to specify the main condition under which an event or action occurs. It is grammatically correct and used in both formal and informal writing, with a slightly greater leaning towards professional communication. As confirmed by Ludwig, its frequent appearance in News & Media and Science contexts highlights its versatility and widespread acceptance. To enhance clarity and prevent redundancy, consider alternatives like "mainly when" or "chiefly when".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly when

This alternative is a direct synonym, replacing "primarily" with "mainly" to indicate the principal occurrence.

predominantly when

This alternative employs "predominantly" in place of "primarily", suggesting a condition that is more common than others.

chiefly when

This alternative substitutes "primarily" with "chiefly", emphasizing the most important or common condition.

mostly when

This option uses "mostly" in place of "primarily", suggesting that the condition happens in the majority of cases.

largely when

This alternative employs "largely" instead of "primarily", indicating a significant portion of the time.

especially when

This alternative uses "especially" to highlight a particularly notable circumstance.

particularly when

This option replaces "primarily" with "particularly", focusing on a specific condition or situation.

generally when

This alternative substitutes "primarily" with "generally", indicating common, but not necessarily exclusive, conditions.

typically when

This option uses "typically" instead of "primarily", suggesting the usual or expected circumstances.

in most cases when

This alternative provides a more descriptive way to express the conditions, indicating that in the majority of scenarios the statement holds true.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the term "primarily when"?

You can replace "primarily when" with alternatives such as "mainly when", "chiefly when", or "mostly when" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "primarily when"?

While grammatically sound, beginning a sentence directly with "primarily when" is less common. It often functions better as part of a clause within a larger sentence to provide context.

What is the difference between "primarily when" and "exclusively when"?

"Primarily when" indicates the main or most frequent circumstance, whereas "exclusively when" indicates the only circumstance. Using "exclusively when" means that something only happens in that particular situation.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "primarily when"?

The phrase "primarily when" is suitable in both formal and informal contexts to specify the conditions under which an event or action most often occurs. It's versatile enough for use in everyday conversation and academic writing.