secondarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'secondarily' is correct and can be used in written English.
It means something that is of less importance or a lower priority compared to something else. Example: My primary goal is to finish my degree, and secondarily, I want to gain work experience in my field.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This sort of nastiness is more easily intelligible than the aggregate kind and is at least as important because many voters form their judgments on character first and policy only secondarily.

The Economist

America sees the problem primarily as one of nuclear proliferation and secondarily as a threat to Israel.

The Economist

Reihan Salam points us to a revealing passage from a book by Mitch Daniels, the Republican governor of Indiana who abolished collective-bargaining for public-sector workers in his state:In Indiana our actions were only secondarily about finances.

The Economist

But the choice is only partly, and secondarily, a matter of economics.

The Economist

But German shepherds are only secondarily wolf-like, having been deliberately bred to look that way in the relatively recent past.How the loss of particular signals affects the social lives of dogs is not yet clear.

The Economist

Its choice of targets is designed partly to serve Europe's own domestic interests by avoiding areas where it relies on American produce and, secondarily, to hurt producers in ways likely to do maximum damage to George Bush in next year's presidential election (see article).The administration has not reaped the benefits it expected from the introduction of tariffs in March 2002.

The Economist

Mīmāṃsā claims that the sole primary meaning of the word "bull" is the generic property or the class property (jāti) such as bull-ness, while the individual object which possesses this generic property, i.e., a particular bull, is only secondarily and subsequently understood from the word "bull".

SEP

But the PC does more work for Du Châtelet than just separating out the possible from the impossible, and on this point, she leans more toward Leibniz's use of this principle than toward Wolff's use of it, for the PC secondarily divides the category of the possible into truths that are necessary from those that are contingent.

SEP

If God is thus named secondarily by the common name, so that the creature is primarily named by it, nonetheless God's wisdom is the cause and source of human wisdom.

SEP

By giving objects their intelligibility (esse intelligibile), the divine intellect "is that in virtue of which secondarily the objects produced move the intellect in actuality" (Ord. I.3.1.4 n.267).

SEP

One can emphasize the difference between experiment and simulation, following Gilbert and Troitzsch and Peschard, by insisting that experiments teach us first about their epistemic targets and only secondarily allow inferences to the behavior of other systems.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "secondarily" to clearly indicate that one aspect or action is less important than another. This helps in establishing priorities and clarifying the relative significance of different elements in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "secondarily" when you mean "secondly". "Secondly" is used to list items in a sequence, while "secondarily" indicates a lower level of importance. For example, "Firstly, do this; secondly, do that" is correct for sequencing, but "The main issue is X, and secondarily, Y" is correct for indicating importance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "secondarily" is as an adverb. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate that an action, quality, or state is of lesser importance compared to something else. Ludwig examples show "secondarily" being used to qualify various statements, clarifying relative priorities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Secondarily" functions as an adverb used to indicate that something is of lesser importance compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical status and its frequent usage across various domains. While its meaning is straightforward, it is essential to distinguish it from "secondly", which is used for sequencing. Predominantly found in science, news, and formal business contexts, "secondarily" helps establish a hierarchy of importance in written communication. Using "secondarily" effectively involves being mindful of its purpose and potential for misinterpretation, ensuring that your writing clearly conveys the intended relationship between different elements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a lower priority

Clearly indicates that something is not as important as something else.

of lesser importance

Directly conveys the reduced significance of something.

as a secondary consideration

Highlights that something is being considered but not as the main focus.

subsequently

Indicates a following in time or order, implying a less immediate or primary role.

incidentally

Suggests something occurring as a minor or subordinate element.

in the second instance

Points to the second step or stage in a process, indicating a later priority.

in a subordinate role

Emphasizes a lower rank or importance in a hierarchical structure.

peripherally

Suggests a position on the edge or outside the main focus.

ancillary to

Indicates something that provides support but is not essential.

by the way

Suggests an item being mentioned in addition to the main subject, with less relevance.

FAQs

How do I use "secondarily" in a sentence?

"Secondarily" is used to indicate that something is of lesser importance compared to something else. For example, "My primary focus is on completing the project, and "secondarily", I want to improve my presentation skills."

What are some alternatives to "secondarily"?

You can use alternatives like "subsequently", "incidentally", or "of lesser importance" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "secondarily" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "secondarily" may sound awkward. It's generally better to use it within the sentence to clearly connect it to the primary point. You could rephrase to something like, "While the main concern is X, Y is "also important"."

What is the difference between "primarily" and "secondarily"?

"Primarily" indicates the main or most important aspect, while "secondarily" indicates something of lesser importance. They are often used together to contrast the relative significance of different elements. For instance, "The company's primary goal is profit, and "secondarily", it aims to improve customer satisfaction."