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[upthera44.livejournal.com]

A few recent questions I've had:

1. Can you comment on the stylistic differences between these synonyms: в основном, главным образом, большею частию? Are they conversation, bookish, archaic? Do you have any preferences? I usually say в основном in this context, but have begun occasionally saying главным образом. I never use the last variant and have only read it in older literature, but maybe it is also still used, I don't know.

2. Can someone please explain the difference in using between чем and нежели? I only use чем and don't really understand how to use нежели, but have been corrected by friends before and told to use нежели.

Thanks!

Comments

[dekarmi.livejournal.com]

1. большею частию? Sounds like said a couple centuries ago.
now we usually say большей частью.
в основном, главным образом - more common.

2. but have been corrected by friends before and told to use нежели/
In what context?
It's a bit old-fashioned word..

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

>большею частию
is VERY archaic (19th century or earlier.) You can still cay большей частью or even better по большей части (note that the stress in большей is on the 1st syllable,) but that definitely sounds a bit bookish.

As of в основном and главным образом, they are stylistically neutral and pretty much interchangeable.

2. нежели -- it's a bit bookish and/or dated, but still quite usable, especially if you are trying to imitate the old-fashioned, 19th century literary style: я предпочёл бы просидеть ночь под дождём, нежели находиться под одним кровом с вами, милостивый государь (I would rather prefer to sit all night under the rain, than to find myself under one roof with you, sir.)

[alek-morse.livejournal.com]

в основном, главным образом - I use these both as absolute synonyms, without a stylistic difference (a main rule, I think, is that the one doesn't repeat in the text)

большею частию is rather archaic with a bit humour shade

// I never use the last variant and have only read it in older literature, but maybe it is also still used, I don't know //

sometimes I use "большею частию", but more in colloquial language, for some effect ;))

the same case, I believe, with a word "нежели" (like with "большею частию")

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

I think "нежели" and "чем" mean the same thing, with one exception (see below). Keep in mind that unlike "чем", "нежели" will always sound bookish if not downright archaic, so they are not exactly interchangeable.

The exception is that "нежели" can be used by itself to say "rather than". " Чем" would have to be combined with "лучше" to express the same thing.

For example, if a composer wanted to say that he preferred to perform his own works rather than somebody else's, the options are:

Я предпочитаю исполнять свои нежели чужие композиции. <- Correct, if a bit stilted
Я предпочитаю исполнять свои чем чужие композиции. <- Incorrect
Лучше исполнять свои чем/нежели чужие композиции. <- Correct either way

[alexzzzzz.livejournal.com]

+1
«чем» ~ than
«нежели» ~ rather than

To me «в основном», «главным образом», «большей частью», «по большей части» are pretty interchangeable. I can't say that «большей частью» is bookish, but maybe that is because of my way of speech.

[khathi.livejournal.com]

1. "Главным образом" и "большей частью" are somewhat bookish, but otherwise all three are completely neutral and could be used interchangeably. "Большею частию" is an antiquated spelling from the beginning of the XX century.


2. They are generally synonymous and used in the same way, but "нежели" is more literary and stiff.

[olga-mukhortova.livejournal.com]

в основном - everyday language, academic writing, official
главным образом - academic writing, official
большею частию - now it is большей частью - cademic writing, official

they are all used for written language. the main principle is they do not be repeated inside of the text or page. for example, the1st paragraf begins with в основном, so in the 2nd paragraf you d better use главным образом, in the 3rd большей частью. academic writing and official papers (diploma paper) need as more synonims as possible. they are not arhaic, just used in this special field of writing.

the same about these words:
чем everyday language, academic writing, official
нежели academic writing, official

[moai-s.livejournal.com]

Hi,
2. We use нежели nowadays as a high-style word. It seems to be more emphatic than чем.

[korollapushki.livejournal.com]

в основном = большей частью = mostly
главным образом = mainly

главным образом - to emphasize smth., to underline main thing

в основном - to describe basic tendency

for example:

в основном, жители недовольны повышением налогов. главным образом, они недовольны повышением подоходного налога = the most part of citizens are not satisfied with increase of taxes (emphasize - the most part). mainly, they are not satisfied with increase of income tax (emphasize the main point)