this is mainly the case

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is mainly the case" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is true in most situations or instances, but not universally applicable. Example: "In many studies, the results show a positive correlation between exercise and mental health; this is mainly the case for individuals over the age of 30."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But, again, this is mainly the case in Europe and America.

The New York Times

This is mainly the case for transport firms that operate frequent dedicated delivery tour type operations on a regular basis for a given shipper.

European Transport Research Review

Several regions of this molecule play key roles in oxygen binding; this is mainly the case of residues surrounding the haeme, of contact areas between chains, and of binding sites for regulatory ligands.

EMC - Hématologie

This is mainly the case for TWT041 and TWT099-encoded proteins, which are deleted and interrupted, respectively, in several T. whipplei strains.

BMC Genomics

This is mainly the case for surveys conducted prior to the 1980s, for which data are not available in electronic form.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This was mainly the case for the old feather samples.

Plosone

This was mainly the case with priority statements, which by their very nature were generic.

Health Research Policy and Systems

This was mainly the case with indinavir in the 1990s, and this is still the case today with atazanavir.

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

This was mainly the case for Rhineland-Palatinate, i.e. a relatively small federal state in the south-west of Germany.

BMC Public Health

This was mainly the case for the pathways EIF2 signaling, Mitochondrial dysfunction, Oxidative phosphorylation, Regulation of eIF4 and p70S6K signaling, and mTOR signaling (Fig.  2 and Table  2).

BMC Medical Genomics

For large containers, (>100 L) a sample of water was taken and a correction factor was applied (this was mainly the case in the Colombian site, see [ 25, 26]).

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this is mainly the case" to introduce a statement that holds true in a majority of instances, but acknowledge the possibility of exceptions. This allows for nuanced communication and avoids overgeneralization.

Common error

Avoid using "this is mainly the case" when the statement is universally true. Overusing it can dilute its impact and suggest uncertainty where none exists. Use it judiciously to highlight situations that are generally but not always true.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is mainly the case" functions as a qualifier or an explanatory statement. It's used to introduce a situation or fact that is generally true, but with the understanding that exceptions or variations may exist. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this is mainly the case" is a grammatically sound phrase used to qualify a statement, indicating that it is generally true but not universally applicable. As Ludwig AI explains, it is acceptable and usable in written English. While its frequency is uncommon, it finds application across scientific, news, and formal contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overgeneralization and consider whether more precise language would better convey the intended meaning. Alternatives include "this is primarily the situation" and "this is largely the situation", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this is primarily the situation

Replaces "mainly" with "primarily", offering a slightly stronger emphasis on the prevalence.

this is largely the situation

Substitutes "mainly" with "largely", indicating a significant portion but not necessarily the majority.

this is mostly the situation

Uses "mostly" instead of "mainly", suggesting a slightly less formal tone.

this is generally the situation

Employs "generally", indicating a common occurrence without specifying a precise proportion.

this is frequently the situation

Replaces "mainly" with "frequently", highlighting the repeated occurrence of the situation.

this is often the situation

Uses "often" to convey a common occurrence, but with less emphasis than "mainly".

in most cases this is true

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the truthfulness in a majority of instances.

more often than not, this is the situation

Introduces an idiomatic expression to indicate a high probability.

typically, this is the situation

Utilizes "typically" to denote a standard or usual occurrence.

as a rule, this is the situation

Presents the situation as a general rule, implying occasional exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "this is mainly the case" in a sentence?

Use "this is mainly the case" to indicate that something is generally true, but not always. For example: "The software works well on Windows; "this is mainly the case" with newer versions".

What are some alternatives to "this is mainly the case"?

You can use alternatives like "this is primarily the situation", "this is largely the situation", or "this is mostly the situation" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "this is mainly the case" formal or informal?

"This is mainly the case" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider more precise language to specify the degree of prevalence.

What's the difference between "this is mainly the case" and "this is always the case"?

"This is mainly the case" indicates a general trend with exceptions, while "this is always the case" implies a universal truth without exceptions. Be careful to choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.