this is principally because

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is principally because" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to explain the main reason or cause behind a statement or situation. Example: "The project was delayed; this is principally because of unforeseen technical challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

This is principally because of proxy responses.

The Guardian

This is principally because this was a purely lay graveyard with no clerics present.

The Guardian

This is principally because it applies to the entirety of the targeted flights, including the portion outside EU airspace.

The Economist

This is principally because peptide conformation is subject to external flux, due to the isotactic stereochemistry of the peptide chain.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes

Although the average number of formal disputes per year has fallen since 2001, this is principally because rich countries spend less time fighting each other.

The Economist

This is principally because integrity, as argued above, is focused in critical thinking and thus demands that responsibility is taken for that thinking, decision-making, accounting and related practice.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

This was principally because, in the meantime, Arsenal exploded: Robert Pirès settled, Freddie Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp bonded, and Thierry Henry thierryhenried.

The Guardian - Sport

This was principally because of Plan Colombia, which involved a massive programme of financial and military aid.

The Guardian

This was principally because of a conviction that, if war came, the decisive battles would be fought not on land or in the air but at sea.

The Guardian - Books

She said this was principally because nobody had died at Orgreave, there had been no miscarriage of justice, policing had improved since 1984, and the link with Hillsborough could not be made with any certainty.

The Guardian

This was principally because opposition to the National Republicans was fragmented, exemplified by the Free Bridge Party and the Anti-Masonic Party, the latter of which in particular siphoned off significant numbers of Democratic votes in the 1832 election.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your context; while generally acceptable, "this is principally because" can be replaced with simpler alternatives like "mainly because" in informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "this is principally because" when a simpler phrase like "this is because" or "mainly because" suffices. Overusing "principally" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious in contexts where simplicity is preferred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is principally because" functions as a causal connector, linking a statement to its primary cause or reason. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It introduces an explanation for a preceding statement, emphasizing the most important factor.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science & Research

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this is principally because" serves as a robust causal connector, primarily used to introduce the main reason behind a statement. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse sources, including science, news, and business domains. While versatile, it leans toward a neutral to formal register. For simpler explanations or informal contexts, alternatives like "mainly because" or "primarily because" might be more suitable. Mastering the use of "this is principally because" enhances clarity and precision in analytical and explanatory writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

This is mainly because

Replaces "principally" with "mainly", indicating the primary but not necessarily exclusive reason.

This is primarily because

Substitutes "principally" with "primarily", offering a direct and straightforward explanation.

The main reason for this is that

Restructures the sentence to emphasize "reason" rather than "principally".

This is largely due to

Uses "largely due to" to highlight the significant influence of a particular factor.

This stems primarily from

Employs "stems primarily from" to indicate the origin or root cause.

This is chiefly attributable to

Replaces "principally" with "chiefly attributable to", suggesting a significant cause.

The principal cause of this is

Emphasizes that the phrase introduces the main reason something happens.

This is essentially because

Highlights the fundamental reason or underlying mechanism.

This is fundamentally because

Replaces "principally" with "fundamentally", highlighting the underlying reason.

This results mainly from

Indicates that the outcome is largely a product of a particular factor.

FAQs

How can I use "this is principally because" in a sentence?

Use "this is principally because" to introduce the primary reason for something. For instance, "The project was delayed; this is principally because of unforeseen technical challenges".

What can I say instead of "this is principally because"?

You can use alternatives like "this is mainly because", "this is primarily because", or "the main reason for this is that" depending on the context.

Is "this is principally because" formal or informal?

"This is principally because" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "this is mainly because" or "this is because" may be more appropriate.

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

While both phrases indicate the main reason, "this is principally because" suggests that other factors might also be involved, whereas "this is primarily because" focuses on the single, most important cause.