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Predominately...
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Andyw12345  #502363  Fri, 18 Apr 08 06:29 PM

Hi guys,

 

If I said 'This essay will predominately look at ***' that means my essay will focus mainly on *** right?

 

Thanks in advance! :-)
  
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Many thanks, Andy
Grammar Geek  #502365  Fri, 18 Apr 08 06:32 PM

Yes, mainly is a good synonym in most cases.
  
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Andyw12345  #502406  Fri, 18 Apr 08 08:41 PM

Thank you very much! - sorry, what does synonym mean? :-)
  
Grammar Geek  #502411  Fri, 18 Apr 08 08:56 PM

Andy! Use your dictionary!

 

1: one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses (www.m-w.com)
  
Andyw12345  #502724  Sat, 19 Apr 08 06:30 PM

Thank you very much!!!
  
Clive  #502727  Sat, 19 Apr 08 06:44 PM

Hi,

'This essay will predominately look at ***'

I believe you may be thinking of the word 'predominantly'. These are two separate words, with different meanings.

If you want to use this term here, the normal way is to say something like 'The predominant focus of this essay will be .  .  . '

Best wishes, Clive 
  
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Grammar Geek  #503121  Sun, 20 Apr 08 11:24 PM

I didn't even notice Embarrassed, but once you called it to my attention, I looked them up. Although one source said to use predominate as the verb and predominant as the adjective and for the adverb form, at least two listed predominantly as a synonym of predominately. Is this a case of people misusing a word for so long that it becomes the accepted form? (A la "hopefully"?)
  
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