primary trait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primary trait" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the most significant characteristic or quality of a person, object, or concept. Example: "Her primary trait is her unwavering determination, which drives her to succeed in every challenge she faces."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The primary trait she possesses is not some mysterious genius.

The New York Times

"I didn't expect that to be the primary trait of whomever they hired".

The New York Times

It's a privileged hell, for sure, but it's hell, and its primary trait is hollowness.

The Washington Post

But Mr. Maal takes care not to let that voice get too strident; Daande Lenol's primary trait is an irrepressible exuberance.

The New York Times - Arts

On a good team, which is on offense more than it is on defense, one primary trait for the keeper must be the concentration to stay alert and to spring into action on the rare occasions when he is needed.

The New York Times - Sports

Catherine Lord, the director of the Institute for Brain Development at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and a member of the committee overseeing the revisions, said that the goal was to ensure that autism was not used as a "fallback diagnosis" for children whose primary trait might be, for instance, an intellectual disability or aggression.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

In the face of some opposition from her family, one of whose primary traits is, she says, was "obsessive secrecy", she decided to research her story.

The Guardian - Books

This touched upon two of the primary traits of our readers — their literary acumen and their tasteless sense of humor — and, as a result, it was a runaway success.

The New Yorker

Among the across-family regression analyses, 16 showed chromosome-wide significance for the primary traits incidence of clinical mastitis in first (CM1), second (CM2), and third (CM3) lactations, and SCS.

Journal of Dairy Science

Heritabilities with dataset 1 were low-moderate, ranging from 0.06±0.026 (angle of shoulder) to 0.35±0.044 (head length) for the primary traits, and from 0.08±0.032 (frontal angle of knee) to 0.23±0.035 (head-neck junction) for the secondary ones.

Livestock Science

16PF originates from the five primary traits, similar to FFM, but the main difference is that 16PF extends the scoring on the second-order traits as well, providing multi-leveled information describing the personality profile of the human subject [49].

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primary trait", ensure it accurately reflects the most fundamental and distinguishing characteristic of the subject. Avoid using it for secondary or superficial attributes.

Common error

A common mistake is to confuse a prominent characteristic with the "primary trait". Ensure you're identifying the most fundamental and defining aspect, not just the most noticeable one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary trait" functions as a noun phrase, where "primary" modifies "trait". It identifies the most important or fundamental characteristic of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primary trait" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the most important characteristic of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. While alternatives like "main characteristic" or "key attribute" exist, "primary trait" specifically highlights an inherent and fundamental aspect. It finds frequent use in scientific and news media contexts, emphasizing its role in structured and formal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the most distinguishing feature, and avoid mistaking prominent characteristics for the defining "primary trait".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary attribute

Very similar, but replaces trait with attribute.

main characteristic

Focuses on the most important characteristic, omitting the nuance of it being an inherent trait.

principal characteristic

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the main characteristic.

key attribute

Highlights an essential attribute, potentially less inherent than a trait.

core attribute

Highlights the central or fundamental attribute.

defining feature

Emphasizes a feature that sets something apart, possibly more observable than a trait.

essential feature

Emphasizes the necessity of the feature, potentially broader than a trait.

chief quality

Stresses the most important quality, without necessarily implying it's an inherent trait.

dominant characteristic

Focuses on the characteristic that is most prominent or noticeable.

overriding characteristic

Emphasizes that this characteristic is more important than others.

FAQs

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

You can use "primary trait" to describe the most important characteristic of a person, object, or concept. For example, "Her "primary trait" is her unwavering determination."

What is a good alternative to "primary trait"?

Alternatives include "main characteristic", "key attribute", or "defining feature", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "main primary trait"?

Yes, saying "main primary trait" is redundant because "primary" already implies the main or most important trait. It's better to simply use ""primary trait"".

What's the difference between "primary trait" and "secondary trait"?

"Primary traits" are fundamental and defining, while secondary traits are less essential and may be derived from or influenced by the primary ones.