principal dwelling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "principal dwelling" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts related to real estate, legal documents, or discussions about residency. An example is: "The homeowner must reside in their principal dwelling for at least six months of the year." Alternative expressions include "primary residence" and "main home."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

For purposes of this section and sections 1647 and 1665b of this title, the term "principal dwelling" includes any second or vacation home of the consumer.

Cornell University

The Central Bank of Ireland says 12.7% of home mortgage accounts for principal dwelling houses (PDH) were in arrears of more than 90 days at end of June 2013, up from 12.3% at end of March 2013.

The Guardian - Business

Prohibit additional extensions of credit or reduce the credit limit applicable to an account under the plan during any period in which the value of the consumer's principal dwelling which secures any outstanding balance is significantly less than the original appraisal value of the dwelling.

Cornell University

However, for purposes of rescission under §§ 1026.15 and 1026.23, the term also includes a natural person in whose principal dwelling a security interest is or will be retained or acquired, if that person's ownership interest in the dwelling is or will be subject to the security interest.

Cornell University

Apart from the principal dwelling, a stable for the horses and a workshop that sometimes doubles as a gallery, his Tuscan compound has a barn packed with an astonishment of instruments: a thunder sheet here; a suspended assemblage of hollowed-out wooden blocks there; assorted bells, whisks and sticks.

The New York Times - Arts

Except as provided in paragraph (1)(B), the disclosures required under subsection (a) shall be provided on or with any application to establish an account under an open end consumer credit plan which provides for any extension of credit which is secured by the consumer's principal dwelling.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

As the principal royal kraal (an enclosed dwelling area belonging to a family) of the Swazi, Lobamba is the site of parliamentary buildings, an official residence of the king, the offices of the Swazi National Council, the National Archives and Museum, and the National Stadium.

Britannica

Since DHS do not collect data on income or expenditures, the economic status of household is proxied by a household wealth variable constructed from household possessions and amenities and dwelling characteristics, using principal component analysis [ 33].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

From these, the following area-level attributes were selected for the final index using principal components analysis: population density, dwelling density, street connectivity, and the availability of walkable destinations (number of retail stores and services within a 10-min walk).

Diabetes Care

The independent variables include place of residence (slum or non-slum); household wealth computed from household possessions, amenities and dwelling characteristics using principal components analysis [ 27] and recoded as tertiles (Low, Middle, High); respondent's education, marital status, parity, age and ethnicity; and the time since the last birth or last pregnancy termination.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Goddard's Richard Fisher, the principal investigator for the WLC, is not dwelling on the possible loss: "The wonderful thing about using a reusable spacecraft is that you get another chance".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure you are referring to the place where the resident actually lives for the majority of the year to meet most regulatory definitions.

Common error

A frequent mistake is spelling the phrase as "principle dwelling". Remember that "principal" functions as an adjective meaning "chief" or "main", whereas "principle" is a noun meaning a fundamental truth or rule. You cannot live in a "principle".

Linguistic Context

In a sentence, "principal dwelling" functions as a noun phrase. The word "principal" acts as an attributive adjective modifying the noun "dwelling". According to Ludwig, it often serves as the direct object or the object of a preposition in sentences describing legal rights, loan security or tax obligations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

45%

Formal & Business

30%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "principal dwelling" is a precise legal and financial term used to identify an individual's primary place of residence. Data from Ludwig shows it is heavily concentrated in formal and academic contexts, particularly within the U.S. Code and financial regulations. While it is synonymous with "primary residence", its usage in Ludwig AI examples highlights its importance in consumer credit plans and mortgage transactions. Writers should be careful to use the correct spelling of "principal" and reserve this phrase for contexts that require a formal or technical tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary residence

The most common and interchangeable alternative in legal and tax contexts.

primary dwelling

A near-perfect synonym that replaces "principal" with "primary".

principal place of residence

A formal administrative expansion often found in government forms.

main home

A more accessible and less formal way to describe the same concept.

permanent residence

Emphasizes the long-term nature of the living arrangement.

legal residence

Focuses on the address used for official legal and voting purposes.

domicile

A specific legal term that implies a permanent legal home with intent to remain.

owner-occupied property

Used specifically in real estate and mortgage lending contexts.

family home

Carries a more personal and social connotation rather than a strictly legal one.

homestead

Often used in specific legal protections (homestead exemptions) regarding a primary home.

FAQs

What is the difference between a "principal dwelling" and a "primary residence"?

In most contexts, there is no functional difference. Both terms refer to the house that a person lives in most of the time. However, "principal dwelling" is more frequently found in specific legal statutes like the Truth in Lending Act, while "primary residence" is the standard term for tax and real estate purposes.

How do I use "principal dwelling" in a sentence?

You can use it to define residency requirements, for example: "The mortgage applies only to the borrower's "principal dwelling" and not to any investment properties."

Can a vacation home be considered a "principal dwelling"?

Generally, no. A "principal dwelling" is defined by where a person resides for the majority of the year. However, as noted in some legal definitions from Ludwig sources, some specific statutes like Section 1637a of the U.S. Code might include second or vacation homes for particular disclosure purposes.

Is it correct to say "main dwelling" instead?

Yes, "main dwelling" is grammatically correct and understandable, but it lacks the formal precision associated with "principal dwelling" in legal or financial documentation.