Mainly means mostly, more than anything else, or for the largest part. It tells you what the primary focus or cause is, while allowing for some exceptions.
Formed from 'main,' meaning 'chief' or 'principal,' plus the adverb-forming suffix '-ly.' The core idea is about what is dominant or most important.
Words like 'mainly' are linguistic softeners—they let you make a strong statement while leaving yourself an escape hatch. They’re tiny but powerful tools for being accurate without sounding too absolute.
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