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primarily

Mateusz20150

Banned
Polish
Can I say of an author that he\she was primarily a novelist?
Could you tell us what you mean by "primarily", please?
It might be taken to mean that the author was primarily (initially) a novelist, but then started writing plays, poetry, etc.

But it can also mean what you intend for it to mean. Suppose it depends on context.
Meaning most of all.
I should have worded my question differently. Why do you want to use "primarily"? What do you mean by "most of all"?
“Primarily” doesn’t mean “initially.” It means “first and foremost” or “above all.” The original sentence is clear and unambiguous.
That is completely alien to me. Maybe it’s obsolete. It’s not used with that meaning in modern American English.
Dictionaries don’t always reflect current usage. In American English, no one would understand “primarily” in the original sentence to mean “initially.” It’s ruled out by usage and convention. Dictionaries be damned. 👁 Wink ;)
In American English, no one would understand “primarily” in the original sentence to mean “initially.” It’s ruled out by usage and convention.
The same goes for my experience of BE usage, even though OED also acknowledges the "at first" interpretation.
The OP hasn't told us what "most of all" (#3) is intended to mean, however.

Is it supposed to mean that the author wrote more novels than plays or poetry? Or does he mean that the author was known more for his novels than for other writings, or other things that he was involved in (even if his novels were only a small part of the things that he did)?
Well, it may not be clear what the OP meant by "most of all", but even if there may be doubt as to whether "primarily" can mean "at first", I don't think there is any way in which "most of all" can mean "at first".
You're right of course, but that's not something the OP has asked about. Perhaps he'll clarify.
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