we chiefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we chiefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that the focus or main aspect of a discussion or argument is on a particular subject or point. Example: "In our research, we chiefly focused on the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

(During the voyage, Jung recounted, "we chiefly analyzed our dreams").

The New Yorker

But the way we chiefly derive a profit from any given flight is the passenger willing to pay the premium".

The New York Times - Travel

His radical transformation from tempestuous, flailing whizz-kid at Man United to the immaculately sculpted, futuristic CR7 robot of 2016 is an astonishing victory for dedication and emphatic self-belief; sport is so intoxicating because it champions humanity's uniquely beautiful characteristics, and in Ronaldo it is mentality that we chiefly celebrate.

Independent

To overcome this difficulty, we chiefly follow the ideasof [5].

Boundary Value Problems

According to this inspiration, we chiefly single out and analyze the natural hierarchical micro/nano structure in rat's alveolar bone.

Applied Surface Science

Thus, we can assume with a high level of confidence that we chiefly recorded from AOB projection neurons and not interneurons.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"We can afford to pay more for the services we need — chiefly health care and education — and probably will always be able to do so," he writes.

The New York Times

We selected to use the reduced STL-10 dataset for simplicity because we are chiefly concerned with the relationship between whitening and pooling.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Of Elizabeth herself, we have chiefly photographs, which show that she really was a beauty.

The New York Times - Travel

In the 60s, I suspect, we looked chiefly for great performances in great plays.

The Guardian

Japanese and British veterans reminisced on a wartime horror we know chiefly from David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we chiefly" when you want to emphasize the main focus or aspect of a collective action or consideration. This is particularly useful in academic, scientific, or professional contexts where clarity and precision are important.

Common error

Avoid using "we chiefly" in casual or informal settings. Simpler alternatives like "we mainly" or "we mostly" may be more appropriate for everyday conversation or less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we chiefly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or verb phrase to indicate the primary focus or main aspect of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it highlights what is being mainly considered or done.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we chiefly" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to emphasize the primary focus or main aspect of an action within a collective context. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English. While it is more common in formal, scientific, and news contexts, its usage should be carefully considered in informal settings where simpler alternatives might be more suitable. The phrase functions to clarify the most important aspect being considered, with alternatives like "we primarily" or "we mainly" offering similar but slightly nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we primarily

Indicates the main focus, similar to "we chiefly", but emphasizes the idea of importance more strongly.

we mainly

Suggests the largest part or most significant portion of our actions or thoughts.

we principally

Highlights the chief or main element, often in a more formal context.

we mostly

Indicates that the majority of actions or considerations are directed towards something.

we largely

Similar to "we mostly", but can also imply a significant extent or degree.

we particularly

Highlights specific emphasis or focus on certain aspects.

we especially

Indicates that something is given more attention or importance than others.

we predominantly

Suggests an overwhelming majority or influence.

our main focus is

Shifts the structure to a noun phrase, directly stating the primary area of attention.

our chief concern is

Emphasizes the principal worry or area of concern.

FAQs

How can I use "we chiefly" in a sentence?

The phrase "we chiefly" is used to indicate the primary focus or main aspect of a discussion or activity. For example, "In our research, "we chiefly" focused on the impact of climate change."

What are some alternatives to "we chiefly"?

You can use alternatives such as "we primarily", "we mainly", or "we principally" depending on the context.

Is "we chiefly" formal or informal?

"We chiefly" is generally considered more formal and is often used in academic, scientific, or professional writing. In informal contexts, phrases like "we mostly" or "we mainly" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "we chiefly" and "we primarily"?

While both indicate a main focus, "we chiefly" emphasizes the primary aspect, while "we primarily" emphasizes importance. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the main aspect or the most important one.