the primary ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the primary ones" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the main or most important items in a specific context. Example: "In our study, we focused on the primary ones that significantly impact the results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The top council of regulators, the Financial Stability Oversight Council, said last fall that the S.E.C. should consider proposals that go further than the primary ones put forward on Wednesday, like a floating share value for all money market funds.

The New York Times

Thad's certainly one of the primary ones," Groce said.

The New York Times

"Defensive ends and linemen have been the primary ones to generate big salaries on defense.

The New York Times - Sports

Information theory is used to characterize the achievable rates in a cognitive radio network under different assumptions on how the secondary systems interfere with the primary ones.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

While her parents apparently spoke several languages, the primary ones were English and Ladino — not English and standard Spanish.

The New York Times

The field of computing is made up of several disciplines of which Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Information Systems are arguably three of the primary ones.

Information and Software Technology

The primary ones pertain to the patient recording of the environment and create an ethical content of the kind often found in Robert Adams's landscape photographs.

The New York Times - Arts

The overwhelming number of stock options go to top executives, who are the primary ones likely to be affected by any legislation, according to researchers, including those whose work corporate lobbyists have cited.

The New York Times

Compared with 1-butanol, the relative abundance of unimolecular dehydration cationic species [C4H9]+ was significantly improved in 2-butanol dehydration at identical conditions (Fig. 2b), which could be attributed to the secondary carbeniums being more stable than the primary ones.

Nature

It was observed that after a decrease in the martensite laths interspace down to less than 2 μm as a result of increasing the strain, some secondary martensite laths forms within the primary ones.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

A three-stage scenario is proposed where the primary nanocones grow on large catalyst particles during the first stage, and the secondary nanocones are formed between the primary ones at the second stage.

Carbon

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the primary ones", ensure the context clearly defines what set of items are being referred to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reader understands which items are considered primary.

Common error

Avoid using "the primary ones" without explicitly stating or implying the larger group from which they are being selected. Without context, the phrase becomes vague and loses its impact. For example, instead of saying "the primary ones were affected", specify "of all the factors, the primary ones were affected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the primary ones" functions as a nominal phrase, acting as a noun substitute to refer to the most important or principal items within a specific context. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is used across various domains to denote significance or priority.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the primary ones" is a versatile and frequently used phrase to denote the most important items within a specified group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread application across diverse domains, particularly in science and news media. While generally neutral in tone, clarity is crucial when employing this phrase; ensure the context makes it clear which items are being referenced to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives like "the main ones" or "the key ones" offer subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the main ones

Replaces "primary" with "main", focusing on the most important or significant items.

the key ones

Substitutes "primary" with "key", highlighting items that are essential or crucial.

the principal ones

Uses "principal" instead of "primary", emphasizing the foremost or leading items.

the most important ones

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the importance of the items.

the essential ones

Replaces "primary" with "essential", stressing the necessity of the items.

the foremost ones

Uses "foremost" to indicate the most prominent or leading items.

the leading ones

Substitutes "primary" with "leading", emphasizing items that are in the forefront.

the chief ones

Replaces "primary" with "chief", highlighting the most significant or dominant items.

the crucial ones

Emphasizes the critical or decisive nature of the items.

the significant ones

Highlights the importance or consequence of the items.

FAQs

How can I use "the primary ones" in a sentence?

You can use "the primary ones" to refer to the most important or significant items in a group. For example, "Medicare and Social Security are "the primary ones" that need to be addressed".

What are some alternatives to "the primary ones"?

Alternatives include "the main ones", "the key ones", or "the most important ones", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "the primary ones"?

It's appropriate when you want to highlight the most important or influential items from a larger set. Ensure the context makes it clear which set you are referring to.

What's the difference between "the primary ones" and "the secondary ones"?

"The primary ones" refers to the most important or influential items, while "the secondary ones" refers to items that are less important or consequential. Understanding this distinction is key to accurate usage.