which is chiefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which is chiefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to specify the primary or main aspect of something being discussed. Example: "The project focuses on renewable energy, which is chiefly aimed at reducing carbon emissions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Manchester itself has a multiracial immigrant community, which is chiefly concentrated in the Moss Side area.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Reason, which is chiefly reflective, assists at every stage in perfecting faith's self-understanding.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She also does all the administrative work for the Tony management committee, which is chiefly concerned with the television broadcast.

The New York Times

Our tour of old Plovdiv ended at the Church of St. Marina, which is chiefly distinguished by a detached belfry in the exotic form of a wooden pagoda.

The New York Times - Magazine

"An embarrassment", "cheesy and dated", and "truly, deeply horrible" were among the critical verdicts on a collection which is chiefly remembered for heart-shaped nipple tassles.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Canarsie's rushing attack, which is chiefly responsible for the team's 28-point scoring average, relies on Rouse as the anchor of the offensive line.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Mr. McKeon said aides to Mr. Pataki make the decision about which trips are primarily political and which are chiefly governmental.

The New York Times

The benchmarks were used by miners, refiners, traders and end-users to price gold and silver, as well as platinum and palladium, which are chiefly used in autocatalysts.

The Guardian - Business

It sparked off a literary controversy, however, which was chiefly conducted by Corneille's rival dramatists, Mairet and Georges de Scudéry, and which resulted in a bitter pamphlet war.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After publication of the interview -- which was chiefly about "Harvey and Mr. Parsonss's career -- several celebrity magazines and blogs picked up my article's mention of the gay angle.

The New York Times

After they'd finished, Lucas said a few words about his reasons for wanting to rerelease the trilogy, which were chiefly that it would allow a new generation of fans to see the movies in theatres.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which is chiefly" to clearly indicate the main characteristic or component of something you are describing. This helps to focus the reader's attention on the most important aspect.

Common error

Ensure that the "which" in "which is chiefly" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent. Avoid using it when the connection to the noun it modifies is unclear, as this can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which is chiefly" functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause, providing additional information about the noun it modifies. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used to specify the most important aspect of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which is chiefly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause to specify the primary or main aspect of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across diverse sources, including news, scientific articles, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "which is primarily" or "which is mainly" exist, "which is chiefly" offers a clear and effective way to highlight the most significant element in a description. Remember to use it with a clear antecedent to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which is primarily

Replaces "chiefly" with "primarily", emphasizing the main or principal aspect.

which is mainly

Substitutes "chiefly" with "mainly", highlighting the major or principal component.

which is largely

Uses "largely" instead of "chiefly", suggesting a significant portion or extent.

which is principally

Employs "principally" to convey the foremost or most important aspect.

that is mainly

Uses "that is" instead of "which is", and replaces "chiefly" with "mainly", to define a primary attribute.

that is primarily

Switches to "that is" and "primarily", emphasizing the principal focus or concern.

that is mostly

Opts for "that is" and "mostly", indicating the greatest part or amount.

primarily consisting of

Focuses on composition rather than characteristic, using "primarily consisting of".

mainly composed of

Highlights composition with "mainly composed of", shifting the emphasis.

largely based on

Indicates foundation or dependence with "largely based on", altering the focus.

FAQs

How do I use "which is chiefly" in a sentence?

Use "which is chiefly" to specify the primary or main aspect of something being discussed. For example: "The success of the project, "which is chiefly" attributable to the team's dedication, exceeded all expectations."

What can I say instead of "which is chiefly"?

You can use alternatives like "which is primarily", "which is mainly", or "which is largely" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that is chiefly" instead of "which is chiefly"?

Yes, "that is chiefly" is a grammatically correct alternative to "which is chiefly". Both can be used to indicate the primary characteristic or component of something.

What's the difference between "which is chiefly" and "that is mainly"?

While both phrases are similar, "which is chiefly" may imply a slightly greater degree of importance or dominance compared to "that is mainly". However, in most contexts, they are largely interchangeable.