were primarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were primarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the main focus or predominant aspect of a subject in the past. Example: "The studies conducted in the 1990s were primarily focused on environmental impacts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Their victims were primarily Muslim.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rather, they were primarily of military importance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The factories were primarily geared for export.

The New York Times

The Seattle protests were primarily peaceful.

The New York Times

"These were primarily religious toys," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

At first these were primarily travel journals.

The New York Times - Tech

The remaining teachers were primarily retread newspapermen.

Columbia University

To him, they were primarily status symbols and decoration.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"AuFeminin is primarily European".

The New York Times - Tech

Leeches are primarily bloodsuckers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Chester is primarily residential.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were primarily", ensure that the rest of the sentence clearly identifies what the subject was primarily, as opposed to other less significant aspects.

Common error

Avoid using "were primarily" when the focus was only slightly more significant than other aspects. If the difference isn't substantial, consider using a less definitive term like "were also" or "were in part".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were primarily" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree or extent to which something was the main focus or characteristic. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate what was most important or prevalent. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written english.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were primarily" serves to highlight the main aspect or focus of something in the past. It's grammatically sound and widely used across various domains, including news, science, and academia, as verified by Ludwig AI. While versatile, it's essential to use it judiciously, ensuring that it accurately reflects the prominence of the emphasized aspect. Alternatives such as "were mainly" or "were chiefly" can be employed for slight variations in emphasis or formality. Use this phrase when you want to focus on the principal element, aim, or quality in a clear and effective manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were mainly

Changes 'primarily' to 'mainly', offering a slightly less formal alternative with a similar emphasis on the principal aspect.

were chiefly

Replaces 'primarily' with 'chiefly', suggesting the most important or dominant element.

were principally

Substitutes 'primarily' with 'principally', indicating the main factor or reason.

were largely

Uses 'largely' instead of 'primarily', focusing on the extent or proportion.

were predominantly

Replaces 'primarily' with 'predominantly', emphasizing the most common or noticeable aspect.

were mostly

Changes 'primarily' to 'mostly', indicating the greater part or majority.

were basically

Uses 'basically' instead of 'primarily', suggesting the fundamental or essential nature.

were essentially

Replaces 'primarily' with 'essentially', emphasizing the core or intrinsic quality.

were fundamentally

Substitutes 'primarily' with 'fundamentally', highlighting the underlying basis or foundation.

were first and foremost

Offers a more emphatic alternative to 'primarily', stressing the initial or most important consideration.

FAQs

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

Use "were primarily" to indicate the main focus, purpose, or characteristic of something in the past. For example, "The investigations "were primarily" focused on financial records."

What are some alternatives to "were primarily"?

You can use alternatives such as "were mainly", "were chiefly", or "were mostly" depending on the context.

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

No, "was primarily" is used with singular subjects, while "were primarily" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The focus was primarily on safety" (singular) versus "The efforts "were primarily" focused on safety" (plural).

What's the difference between "were primarily" and "were exclusively"?

"Were primarily" indicates the main but not necessarily the only focus, while "were exclusively" indicates that something was the sole focus, with no other aspects involved. For example, "The discussions "were primarily" about budget" suggests other topics might have been discussed, while "The discussions were exclusively about budget" means no other topics were covered.