principally among

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "principally among" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is primarily or mainly found within a specific group or category. Example: "The findings were principally among young adults, highlighting their unique preferences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

And it was occurring principally among homosexuals, a stigmatized group.

The New York Times - Science

The increased risk was principally among a group of people who had pre-existing levels of immunity to a common cold virus known as adenovirus type 5, which was modified to become a critical part of the vaccine.

The New York Times - Health

But reflecting the ambivalent feelings of many Catholics, Mr. Sexton said there was a place for both Christian teaching and moral preaching in the public square and, principally, among all Catholics, not just office-seekers.

The New York Times

"We are seeking to raise money principally among expats," he told Guardian Unlimited, "but British citizens living in America often have friends, family and partners who share their political convictions".

The Guardian

The Dutch, for their part, refrained from giving any official support to the Flemish nationalist movement in Belgium, although a Great Netherlands movement, principally among intellectuals, emphasized the underlying unity of the Dutch and Flemings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A large number of Presbyterians in Scotland, principally among the Cameronians, also refused to take the oaths of allegiance to William and Mary, but as their refusal was on different grounds, they are not usually referred to as Nonjurors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

He served for many years as a commissioner representing Massachusetts to the New England Confederation, an organization that coordinated matters of common interest (principally defense) among most of the New England colonies.

Wikipedia

The effects were principally seen among newborns with the highest exposures (group 4).

Environmental Health Perspectives

The increased risk of dying of communicable diseases, principally HIV/AIDS, among temporary migrants decreased significantly in the area of the current study between 2000 and 2011 (31).

Global Health Action

As before, the images showed up on 4chan and Reddit, but unlike the late-August leak that principally targeted Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton among others, they were soon deleted by those sites under new rules about posting copyrighted images.

Los Angeles Times

The systematic position of the leaves with putatively attached seeds from the Bletterbach could principally be supposed among the cycads, the pteridosperms, or the ginkgophytes.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "principally among" to clearly indicate that something is primarily or mainly found within a specific group. This helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "principally among" in very informal writing or speech, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "mainly in" or "mostly with" in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "principally among" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the primary group or category in which something is found or occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and serves to specify a particular subset within a larger context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "principally among" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is primarily associated with a specific group or category. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for formal writing. While not as common as alternatives like "mainly among" or "primarily among", it provides a slightly more precise way to emphasize the key group in question. Use it to enhance clarity and specificity, but be mindful of maintaining an appropriate tone for your audience. The phrase is most frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly among

Replaces "principally" with "mainly", offering a more common and slightly less formal alternative.

primarily among

Substitutes "principally" with "primarily", conveying a similar meaning with a slightly different nuance.

chiefly among

Replaces "principally" with "chiefly", emphasizing the main or most important aspect within the group.

largely among

Substitutes "principally" with "largely", indicating a significant portion or majority within the group.

mostly among

Replaces "principally" with "mostly", suggesting that the majority of instances are found within the specified group.

predominantly among

Substitutes "principally" with "predominantly", indicating a higher degree of prevalence within the group.

particularly among

Shifts the focus to highlighting specific instances within a group, rather than a general prevalence.

especially among

Similar to "particularly among", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the exceptional nature of the instances.

above all among

Indicates a prioritization or ranking, suggesting that the association is most significant within the specified group.

for the most part among

Indicates that something is generally true within the specific group, but allows for exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "principally among" in a sentence?

Use "principally among" to specify that something is primarily found or occurs within a certain group. For example: "The disease was found principally among the elderly."

What's a simpler way to say "principally among"?

Alternatives include "mainly among", "primarily among", or "mostly among", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "principally among" and "primarily among"?

While similar, "principally among" suggests a main or leading association, whereas "primarily among" simply indicates a first or foremost association. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you wish to make.

When should I use "principally among" instead of just "among"?

Use "principally among" when you want to emphasize that something is not just present within a group, but that it is most significantly or predominantly associated with that group. This adds a layer of specificity that "among" alone lacks.