were predominantly

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "were predominantly" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
An example sentence using the phrase would be: "The protesters were predominantly young people."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Diplomats were predominantly Russian.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The rioters were predominantly young.

The Guardian

Those votes, too, were predominantly for Rosie.

The New York Times

Her constituents were predominantly Roman Catholic.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the children were predominantly American-born.

The New York Times

Those roles were predominantly white and male.

The Guardian

Mental simulations were predominantly technical/functional.

Design Studies

What remained were predominantly microgel-encapsulated single cells.

Harvard University

Vintage shops were predominantly the preserve of women.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Families were predominantly nuclear, a married couple and their children.

The Guardian

Decisions were predominantly made without a lot of staff input.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing demographics or composition, "were predominantly" offers a concise way to specify the most significant group within a larger population.

Common error

Avoid using "were predominantly" when the characteristic is not clearly in the majority. Using phrases like "were quite a few" or "were a significant number" is more accurate when describing substantial but not dominant portions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were predominantly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the extent to which a certain characteristic or attribute is present. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase indicates that a quality or characteristic is present in the majority of instances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

28%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were predominantly" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates a majority or primary characteristic. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across diverse contexts. It's most prevalent in science, news and media, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the characteristic is truly in the majority and consider using alternative phrases like "were mainly" or "were primarily" for slightly different nuances. Avoid overstating the dominance of a characteristic when it doesn't represent a clear majority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were mainly

Replaces "predominantly" with "mainly", suggesting the primary but not necessarily exclusive characteristic.

were chiefly

Substitutes "predominantly" with "chiefly", indicating principal importance or influence.

were primarily

Replaces "predominantly" with "primarily", denoting the main or most important aspect.

were principally

Uses "principally" instead of "predominantly", emphasizing the primary or fundamental nature.

were mostly

Replaces "predominantly" with "mostly", indicating a large proportion but not necessarily a majority.

were largely

Substitutes "predominantly" with "largely", suggesting a significant extent or degree.

consisted mainly of

Restructures the sentence to highlight the composition, using "consisted mainly of" to convey a similar meaning.

were in the majority

Expresses the idea of being "predominantly" by stating that they "were in the majority".

were to a great extent

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate that something was true to a significant degree.

were for the most part

Replaces "predominantly" with a more conversational phrase meaning "mostly" or "generally".

FAQs

How can I use "were predominantly" in a sentence?

Use "were predominantly" to indicate that a certain characteristic or group constituted the majority. For instance, "The attendees "were predominantly male"" suggests that most attendees were men.

What phrases can I use instead of "were predominantly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were mainly", "were primarily", or "were mostly". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of emphasis you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "was predominantly" instead of "were predominantly"?

The choice between "was" and "were" depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use "was predominantly" with singular subjects and "were predominantly" with plural subjects. Example: "The result was predominantly positive," vs. "The results "were predominantly positive"."

What is the nuance between "were predominantly" and "were exclusively"?

"Were predominantly" indicates a majority but allows for exceptions, while "were exclusively" means that only that group or characteristic was present, with no exceptions. Therefore, "were exclusively" implies a stronger and more absolute condition.