primary culprit

USAGE SUMMARY

"primary culprit" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone or something that is mostly to blame for something that has gone wrong. For example, "After the investigation, the primary culprit of the financial scandal was uncovered to be the company's former CEO."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The primary culprit is technology.

The Guardian - Opinion

The primary culprit, many believe, is temperature.

The New York Times

The primary culprit, he felt, was the repertory — Grigorovich, mainly.

The New Yorker

The primary culprit was refining, where earnings can be capricious.

The New York Times

Reynolds cited Enron Field, the Astros' new home, as the primary culprit.

The New York Times - Sports

Television is considered a primary culprit in prolonging the time of games.

The New York Times - Sports

Most economists believe that weak aggregate demand is the primary culprit.

The New York Times

Dozens of species have been known to carry West Nile, but the Culex pipiens is the primary culprit.

The New York Times

But the Forest Service remains focused on its own primary culprit: the symbol of fire eradication, Smokey Bear.

The New York Times

The Yankees' defense may not be considered the primary culprit in their 8-1 loss to Detroit.

The New York Times - Sports

Packed with powerful botanicals, the soothing ayurvedic liquorice root counteracts melanin – the primary culprit for darkening under the eye.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider adding extra emphasis when using the expression "primary culprit" in order to highlight the severity of the problem.

Common error

Avoid using "primary culprit" when there are multiple contributing factors without clearly establishing that one factor is significantly more responsible than the others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary culprit" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the main cause or the entity most responsible for a negative situation or problem. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primary culprit" is a noun phrase used to identify the main cause or the entity most responsible for a negative situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While "primary culprit" is suitable for formal writing, ensure sufficient evidence backs the claim, as it carries strong implications of blame. Alternatives such as "main cause" or "principal factor" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main cause

Focuses on causality rather than blame.

chief reason

Emphasizes the rationale behind an event.

principal factor

Highlights the most influential element.

key instigator

Pinpoints the one who initiated the problem.

major contributor

Identifies an element that significantly added to the issue.

prime mover

Indicates the initial source of an action or event.

root cause

Highlights the fundamental reason for the situation.

underlying factor

Emphasizes a less obvious but important element.

driving force

Highlights the element propelling an action or event.

central figure

Focuses on the most involved individual or entity.

FAQs

How can I use "primary culprit" in a sentence?

You can use "primary culprit" to identify the main cause or instigator of a problem, for example: "The investigation revealed that poor management was the "primary culprit" behind the company's financial struggles."

What's a good alternative to "primary culprit"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "main cause", "chief reason", or "principal factor".

Is it appropriate to use "primary culprit" in formal writing?

Yes, "primary culprit" is suitable for formal writing, especially when discussing causes and effects or assigning responsibility. However, ensure your analysis is well-supported.

What is the difference between "primary cause" and "primary culprit"?

"Primary cause" focuses on the main reason something happened, while "primary culprit" specifically implies blame or responsibility for a negative outcome.