mainly

Everyday

Mainly means mostly, more than anything else, or in most cases. tree →

In the lessons

In school writing and science it is used to describe the biggest part of something («Air is mainly nitrogen»; «The diet is mainly plants»). In maths and data handling it describes what most of the data shows. Similar words: «mostly», «largely», «chiefly». Phrases: «mainly because», «mainly made of».

Examples

• The class is mainly girls this year. tree →
• Koalas eat mainly eucalyptus leaves. tree →
• The air we breathe is mainly nitrogen. tree →
• I walk to school, mainly because it is close. tree →
• Our garden is mainly grass. tree →
• The weather will be mainly dry with some showers. tree →
• The book is mainly about friendship. tree →
• The bar chart shows that pupils travel mainly by car. tree →
• The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. tree →

Note

Adverb, so it goes before the main verb or before the word it describes. «Mainly» does not mean «only»: in maths, if a class is mainly girls, more than half are girls, but some are boys. Do not confuse with «Maine» (a US state).

In Jewish tradition

In school writing and science it is used to describe the biggest part of something («Air is mainly nitrogen»; «The diet is mainly plants»). In maths and data handling it describes what most of the data shows. Similar words: «mostly», «largely», «chiefly». Phrases: «mainly because», «mainly made of».

Examples

• The "Sepher Yetzirah," on the other hand is mainly concerned with our universe and with the Microcosm. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• The '' Sepher Yetzirah," on the other hand is mainly concerned with our universe and with the Microcosm. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Adverb, so it goes before the main verb or before the word it describes. «Mainly» does not mean «only»: in maths, if a class is mainly girls, more than half are girls, but some are boys. Do not confuse with «Maine» (a US state).