was driven primarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was driven primarily" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate the main purpose or cause of something. For example, "The new policy was driven primarily by the needs of the customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He explained: "I was driven primarily to write the best story I could.

The Guardian

The increase in output in the third quarter was driven primarily by stronger consumer spending.

The New York Times

The credibility gap in government was driven primarily by Watergate and Vietnam; it affected Americans of all ages.

The New York Times

Her lifelong love of quail hunting was driven primarily by the joy of watching her hunting dogs work.

The New York Times

"The pre-tax loss was driven primarily by non-cash adjustments relating to asset impairments, not cash outflow.

The Guardian

The spike was driven primarily by stronger demand for natural gas and oil, which surprised the researchers.

The New York Times

At temperatures up to 723 K the reaction was driven primarily by NO2 and enhanced by O2 and H2O.

Carbon

French clubs have complained that they were not consulted about the reform, which was driven primarily by officials from Juventus and Bayern Munich.

The Guardian - Sport

His final visit to Hume, to see the great infidel on his deathbed, was driven primarily not by compassion or even duty.

The Guardian - Books

For instance, if a Miracle Worker's ROA advantage was driven primarily by superior gross margins, we looked for behaviors that might account for that.

Harvard Business Review

Among infants, that shift was driven primarily by changes in our premature birthrate (babies born before full gestational age), which is the highest in the developed world.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was driven primarily", ensure the sentence clearly identifies the specific factor that had the most significant influence. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "was driven primarily" when multiple factors significantly contributed to an outcome. If several elements played equally important roles, opt for language that reflects a more balanced influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was driven primarily" functions as a passive construction indicating causation. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is a usable phrase in written English, often used to describe the main cause or purpose of something. Examples show its frequent use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was driven primarily" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate the main cause or motivation behind something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. It is often found in news articles, scientific papers, and business reports, reflecting a neutral tone. The phrase's function is to emphasize the key influencing factor, helping readers quickly grasp the primary reason for an event or decision. While alternatives exist, "was driven primarily" is a clear and direct way to convey a dominant influence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was mainly caused by

Focuses on causation using 'caused' instead of 'driven'.

was largely influenced by

Emphasizes influence as the primary factor.

was chiefly motivated by

Highlights motivation as the driving force.

was principally determined by

Stresses the act of determining the outcome.

was fundamentally rooted in

Indicates a deep underlying cause or origin.

stemmed primarily from

Uses 'stemmed' to convey origination from a source.

resulted mainly from

Emphasizes the consequence of a primary cause.

was predominantly shaped by

Highlights the shaping or molding effect.

was essentially based on

Indicates a foundational element.

was substantially triggered by

Focuses on the triggering event or cause.

FAQs

How can I use "was driven primarily" in a sentence?

Use "was driven primarily" to indicate the main factor or cause behind an event or decision. For example, "The company's growth "was driven primarily" by increased online sales."

What are some alternatives to "was driven primarily"?

Alternatives include "was mainly caused by", "was largely influenced by", or "was chiefly motivated by", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was primarily driven" instead of "was driven primarily"?

While "was primarily driven" isn't grammatically incorrect, ""was driven primarily"" is the more standard and commonly used phrasing.

What is the difference between "was driven primarily by" and "was significantly influenced by"?

"Was driven primarily by" suggests a single, dominant factor, while "was significantly influenced by" implies that multiple factors had a notable impact, though perhaps not to the same degree.