this is primarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is primarily" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is mainly or chiefly a certain way or for a specific purpose. Example: "This is primarily a discussion about the impact of climate change on agriculture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But this is primarily Scorcher's book.

The New York Times - Books

This is primarily an agricultural town.

The New Yorker

This is primarily saturated fat.

Harvard University

"This is primarily a watershed," he said.

The New York Times

And this is primarily an ethical question.

The Guardian - Books

This is primarily movie-land speak.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is primarily for the business traveler".

The New York Times

This is primarily useful for data entry.

Nature

This is primarily a bugfix release.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This is primarily a fall semester program.

Yale University

This is primarily a temperature response.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this is primarily", consider adding a secondary aspect or qualification to provide a more nuanced perspective, such as, "This is primarily a cost-saving measure, but it will also improve efficiency."

Common error

Avoid using "this is primarily" when the subject has multiple equally important aspects. Instead, reserve it for situations where one aspect significantly outweighs others. For example, instead of saying 'This project is primarily about marketing', when it's equally about development and sales, specify the relative importance: 'While the project includes development and sales, its primary focus is marketing'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is primarily" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a statement, indicating the main reason, focus, or characteristic of something. As Ludwig AI shows, it is commonly used to emphasize the primary aspect while possibly acknowledging secondary elements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this is primarily" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate the main focus, reason, or characteristic of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, including academic, scientific, and news-related content. When using this phrase, be mindful of its implications and clarify secondary aspects as needed to provide a complete and accurate picture. While "this is primarily" is effective, alternatives like "this is mainly" or "this is chiefly" can offer nuanced variations depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this is mainly

Replaces 'primarily' with 'mainly', suggesting the principal but not exclusive aspect.

this is chiefly

Substitutes 'primarily' with 'chiefly', highlighting the most important or dominant factor.

this is largely

Uses 'largely' instead of 'primarily', implying a significant but not total extent.

this is essentially

Replaces 'primarily' with 'essentially', focusing on the fundamental nature.

this is fundamentally

Emphasizes the foundational aspect using 'fundamentally' in place of 'primarily'.

this is mostly

Employs 'mostly' instead of 'primarily', suggesting the greatest part or proportion.

the main reason is

Restructures the sentence to highlight the 'main reason', shifting from a descriptive to an explanatory focus.

the principal cause is

Highlights 'principal cause', emphasizing the primary origin or source of something.

the dominant factor is

Replaces 'primarily' with 'dominant factor', underlining the prevailing influence.

the key aspect is

Uses 'key aspect' to denote the most important or crucial element.

FAQs

How can I use "this is primarily" in a sentence?

Use "this is primarily" to indicate the main reason, focus, or characteristic of something. For example, "This course "is primarily" designed for beginners".

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

While both phrases indicate the main aspect, "this is primarily" suggests a more significant emphasis than "this is mainly". "This is primarily" implies a core reason, while "this is mainly" suggests a general focus. Depending on the context consider using "this is chiefly", as well.

What can I say instead of "this is primarily" to show the main reason?

You can use alternatives like "the main reason is", "the principal cause is", or "the dominant factor is" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Also, consider using "this is largely".

Is it always necessary to specify the secondary aspects when using "this is primarily"?

While not always necessary, specifying secondary aspects after stating "this is primarily" can add clarity and nuance to your statement. For instance, "This decision "is primarily" based on budget constraints, but it also aligns with our long-term goals".