mostly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "mostly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as an adverb that means "for the most part" or "mainly". For example, "I mostly eat vegetables for lunch".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What's more, in some ways – mostly good ones – we are a bit more like them too.

The Guardian

Related: Boom and dust: uncertain future for the mining town run by Rio Tinto "There were so many emotions and mostly it boiled down to feeling stressed, and the obvious place to come was the practice," Chalmers tells Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

Unlike many parts of the country where women have shed traditional regional attire, the women of Qeshm and Hormuz mostly wear the colourful bandari pants, loose at the top and tight at the bottom with vibrant embroidery.

The Guardian

Guardian Documentaries is currently looking to commission mostly short-form documentaries, with the occasional co-production on a longer doc.

The Guardian

Durst's lawyers expressed concern mostly about ease of access to their client, although they also told the court they did not believe their client suffered from "an acute mental illness", according to the court filings.

The Guardian

@bartsfishtales SM Constance Braud's company, which has been operating on a small scale since 2008, mostly sources leaves from China producing some fantastic smoked teas, greens, whites and oolongs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yes Scotland believed those rare or reluctant voters – mostly poor, working class voters in marginalised communities, were heavily inclined to vote yes and would turn out in far higher numbers than a normal election.

The Guardian

While the abuse Malik has received focuses mostly on her race, some users made comments about her appearance and weight and others called her a "dirty Muslim".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ebert was conflicted – it offended him to preface his article with such a warning, not least because the NSFW label was, as he put it, an "unsightly typographical offence", but mostly because it "would contradict the point I was making", namely that he was opposed to American puritanism, preferring Europe's supposed festive nudearama.

The Guardian

The official economic watchdog says that the age structure of the latest waves of mass migration is skewed to those of working age – they are mostly coming to Britain to work or study.

The Guardian

The first is that while the few score of Tea Party supporters are all white and mostly middle aged, the hundreds of supporters of the president's healthcare reforms represent a much greater diversity of ethnicities and ages.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mostly" to indicate that something is generally true but not entirely so. It's useful for conveying a sense of approximation or prevalence without claiming absolute certainty.

Common error

While "mostly" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in formal writing where more precise alternatives such as "primarily" or "predominantly" might be more appropriate.

How to use

Learn how to use "mostly" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The adverb "mostly" functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that something is true or happens in the majority of cases or to the greatest extent. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment of its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly" functions as an adverb that conveys that something is generally true but not entirely so. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and opt for more precise alternatives like "primarily" or "predominantly" in formal writing. By understanding its nuances and usage patterns, you can effectively incorporate "mostly" into your writing to convey approximation and prevalence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly

Indicates the principal component or greatest part of something.

for the most part

Offers a more explicit and descriptive way of saying "mostly".

largely

Suggests a considerable extent or degree, implying that exceptions might exist.

primarily

Emphasizes the fundamental or chief aspect, often suggesting a deliberate focus.

predominantly

Highlights the prevailing or most common element in a situation.

chiefly

Focuses on the most important or prominent factor.

on the whole

Suggests a comprehensive view where exceptions are balanced out.

in general

Implies a broad overview without focusing on specific details.

by and large

Similar to "on the whole", but can also suggest overcoming some difficulties.

more often than not

Highlights frequency or likelihood, rather than quantity or degree.

FAQs

How to use "mostly" in a sentence?

Use "mostly" to indicate that something is true in the majority of cases or to the greatest extent. For example, "The audience was "mostly young people"".

What can I say instead of "mostly"?

You can use alternatives like "mainly", "primarily", or "largely" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "mostly"?

While grammatically permissible, starting a sentence with "mostly" can sometimes sound informal. Consider rephrasing for a more formal tone or use alternatives like "for the most part".

What's the difference between "mostly" and "almost"?

"Mostly" indicates a majority or prevalence, whereas "almost" implies nearness to completion or totality. "Mostly finished" means the project is largely done, while "almost finished" means it's very close to being done.