What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
largely
Example
The success of the project was largely due to the hard work of the team. [largely: adverb]
Example
The city's population is largely made up of immigrants. [largely: adjective]
mainly
Example
I mainly eat vegetables for my meals. [mainly: adverb]
Example
The company's profits are mainly from its international sales. [mainly: preposition]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mainly is more commonly used than largely in everyday language. Mainly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while largely is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between largely and mainly?
Largely is typically associated with a more formal tone, while mainly is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.