principally with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "principally with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the primary focus or main association with something or someone. Example: "The research was principally with individuals who have experienced similar challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Booze interferes principally with the formation of new memories.

The Guardian

Ordinary beers are made principally with fermented barley.

The New York Times - Food

Curtis's films are created principally with American and world audiences in mind.

The Guardian - Film

Bin Laden had previously concerned him self principally with parochial Saudi issues.

The Guardian

He worked principally with a five-by-four-inch Gandolfi plate camera.

The New Yorker

For which the blame lies principally with the club's owner, Steve Morgan.

Independent

From 1924 to 1933, he sold more than $1 million of this equipment, dealing principally with "fronts" for various gangs.

The New Yorker

Banville's novels are really prose poems, concerned principally with rhythm, cadence, and incantation, and far less with character and plot.

The New Yorker

That responsibility will now rest principally with Hank, apparently the final authority on the team's baseball decisions.

The New York Times - Sports

Concerned principally with their latest and best album, Plastic Beach, not all of Gorillaz's set list impresses tonight.

The Guardian - Music

For a director associated principally with delicate, darkened interiority, this is a fully composed foray into epic form.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "principally with", ensure that the context clearly indicates the main association or focus. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "principally with" when the association is minor or secondary. Using it inappropriately can overstate the importance of the connection, misleading the reader about the true emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "principally with" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used to specify the primary subject or object related to a verb or noun. As Ludwig AI shows, it connects actions or descriptions to their main association.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "principally with" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the primary focus or association between two elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources. While alternatives like "mainly with" and "primarily with" exist, "principally with" offers a slightly more formal tone, suitable for situations where precision and emphasis on the core aspect are desired. Remember to use it judiciously, ensuring that the highlighted association is indeed the main one, to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly with

This alternative replaces "principally" with "mainly", offering a simpler and more direct expression of the same concept.

primarily with

This alternative uses "primarily" instead of "principally", suggesting the main or most important aspect of the association.

chiefly with

Replacing "principally" with "chiefly" offers a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the foremost aspect of the relationship.

mostly with

This option uses "mostly" to indicate that something is largely associated with something else, but allows for other associations.

largely with

Substituting "principally" with "largely" suggests that the association is considerable, though not necessarily exclusive.

essentially with

This phrase underscores the fundamental or core connection, highlighting what is intrinsic to the relationship.

predominantly with

The term "predominantly" signifies that something is more prevalent or influential in its association.

primarily associated with

This alternative phrase uses a passive construction to emphasize what is being associated, instead of the act of associating.

mainly concerned with

This option focuses on the area of concern, replacing the relational "with" with a focus on subject matter.

primarily focused on

This alternative shifts the emphasis to a deliberate focus, rather than a general association.

FAQs

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

You can use "principally with" to indicate the main focus or association of something. For example, "The study dealt principally with the effects of climate change."

What are some alternatives to "principally with"?

Some alternatives include "mainly with", "primarily with", or "chiefly with", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to use "principally with" or "mainly with"?

"Principally with" is generally considered more formal than "mainly with". Choose the option that best suits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "principally with" and "primarily with"?

While both "principally with" and "primarily with" indicate a main focus, "principally" suggests a fundamental or core aspect, while "primarily" suggests the most important or earliest aspect.