talk mainly about

USAGE SUMMARY

"talk mainly about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the focus of a conversation, for example: We talked mainly about our plans for the summer vacation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Management textbooks still talk mainly about managing subordinates.

Harvard Business Review

I'll buy the first round of drinks, when we'll talk mainly about other things anyway.

The New York Times

"A journalist who interviewed me recently seemed to want to talk mainly about my early sex life.

The Guardian - Books

We're going to talk mainly about how they work when they're working correctly and what functions they perform in the body.

Yale University

"I steer clear of students who talk mainly about celebrity fashion and TV programmes in their personal statements because it makes me think that they see fashion as something rather fluffy," she says.

The Guardian

In the clip, I talk mainly about one of the couples — the self-made businessman (Paul Douglas) and the smart salesgirl from the other side of the tracks (Linda Darnell), and the issues of sex, class, and power that their story runs on.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

… We're talking mainly about the very affluent.

The Washington Post

So far, I've talked mainly about high tech.

Harvard Business Review

As we talked, mainly about the Middle East, his eyes wandered to the game.

The New Yorker

In lectures, Watson often avoids this dialectic, and talks mainly about the dying oceans.

The New Yorker

It seems that when Simenon and Miller got together they talked mainly about girls.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "talk mainly about", ensure the context clearly indicates what aspects were not discussed in detail. This helps to provide a more complete understanding of the conversation's scope.

Common error

Avoid using "talk mainly about" when the conversation covered a wide range of topics equally. This phrase implies a specific concentration, so ensure your description accurately reflects the focus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talk mainly about" functions as a verb phrase that specifies the primary subject or focus of a conversation or discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It indicates that while other topics might have been touched upon, the majority of the conversation revolved around a particular theme.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "talk mainly about" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate the primary subject of a conversation or discussion. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. While it's not exceptionally common, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts, its meaning is clear and its usage straightforward. When employing this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the emphasis of the conversation and provides valuable context to the listener or reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discuss primarily

Replaces "talk" with "discuss" and "mainly" with "primarily", suggesting a more formal conversation.

focus primarily on

Shifts from conversation to a deliberate focus, implying intention and direction.

center the discussion on

Highlights the main topic as the central point of the conversation.

emphasize significantly

Indicates that certain aspects were given particular importance during the conversation.

devote most of the conversation to

Emphasizes the amount of time spent on a particular topic.

concentrate largely on

Similar to focusing, but implies a larger degree of concentration.

address principally

Suggests a formal and direct handling of a subject.

delve mainly into

Implies a more in-depth exploration of the main subject.

touch primarily upon

Indicates a less detailed discussion, merely touching on the main points.

chat mostly about

Replaces "talk" with "chat", suggesting a more informal and casual conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "talk mainly about" in a sentence?

You can use "talk mainly about" to indicate the primary focus of a conversation. For example, "We "talk mainly about" our plans for the upcoming project".

What are some alternatives to "talk mainly about"?

Alternatives include "discuss primarily", "focus primarily on", or "center the discussion on", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "talk mainly about" and "talk mostly about"?

"Talk mainly about" and "talk mostly about" are very similar. While both indicate the primary subject of a conversation, "talk mainly about" might suggest a slightly more structured or intentional focus, while "talk mostly about" implies a general inclination.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "talk mainly about"?

Avoid using "talk mainly about" if the discussion covered various subjects with equal emphasis, as it suggests a concentrated focus that wasn't actually present. In such cases, a phrase like "talk about" or "discuss" is more accurate.