chiefly in sentences.

[Boris Tatarenko]

There're several words that I can't memorize. I've just built several sentences with "chiefly" and I want you to correct them and tell me whether I used this word properly.

I chiefly wanted to know what he was up to.
Chiefly we should avoid facing with him.
I'll chiefly paint this wall in red and that one in blue.

If my examples aren't quite natural, I'll be happy to see "chiefly" in a good context. :-D

Thanks in advance.

 

[HugoJ]

We are more likely to use "our chief concerns" rather than "chiefly". In fact, after reading some books on writing, use of adverbs like "chiefly" is discouraged as it adds little meaning to a sentence.

For your first sentence, I would use ' Above all ' : Above all, I wanted to know what he was up to.
For the third : I'll paint this wall mainly in red and that one in blue.

I'm not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I am pretty sure I have never used "chiefly". For me there are better words: mainly, primarily. mostly, etc.

 

[Gillnetter]

There're several words that I can't memorize. I've just built several sentences with "chiefly" and I want you to correct them and tell me whether I used this word properly.

I chiefly wanted to know what he was up to.
Chiefly we should avoid facing with him.
I'll chiefly paint this wall in red and that one in blue.

If my examples aren't quite natural, I'll be happy to see "chiefly" in a good context. :-D

Thanks in advance.

The members were chiefly concerned with the fire department.
The soup consists chiefly of carrots.
He phone chiefly to give better instructions.

Chiefly is related to chief or the one in charge. There are better choices such as mainly and mostly.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

It is used in BrE (possibly more than in AmE judging by some of the comments) and is synonymous with "mainly". If you look here you will see that its popularity is in decline.

There is nothing wrong with it, but I wouldn't recommend using it as a sentence adverb.

 

[Raymott]

You say you're coming to Australia, Boris. Leave 'chiefly' behind. "Mainly" or "Mostly" will do.
"I'll chiefly paint this wall in red and that one in blue."
Whatever adverb you use, try to put it in the right place. Do you mean you will paint this wall chiefly (mainly) in red and that one chiefly (mainly) in blue?

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

Thanks for your answers.

Raymott, yes, I meant that.