mostly accounts for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly accounts for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to explain why something has happened or why a particular result has occurred. For example, you could say: "The lack of planning mostly accounts for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The composition of the used infusion should be similar to the physiologic conditions to avoid acid-base disorders, which mostly accounts for balanced crystalloid infusions.

Annals of Intensive Care

This mostly accounts for the restrictive phenotype of these mutations [17].

Plosone

The proportion of the low-frequency band, which mostly accounts for visuovestibular regulation, was higher at 6 00 a.m.

BioMed Research International

Thus, exosome binding and/or the internalization of the exosome ligand(s) during uptake mostly accounts for transiently impaired T cell migration.

Cell Communication and Signaling

The bias is due to a longer transit time from the femoral site, while repeatability of measurements mostly accounts for the wide limits of agreement.

Critical Care

From there we conclude that mutating AA184 and AA186 sufficed to prevent palmitoylation and also that the C-terminal palmitoylation site mostly accounts for cld7 palmitoylation.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Leisure travelers usually stay two weeks or less while business travelers mostly account for longer stays.

The New York Times - Travel

And it is also true that this is mostly accounted for by increased multi-channel viewing.

The Guardian

The disputed outcome of the election, with most other ethnic communities insisting that the Kikuyu incumbent had managed to stay in powerful through electoral intrigue, mostly accounted for the terrible outbreak of violence in January through February this year.

The Guardian - Opinion

So the net giveaway yesterday for the year ahead was just £1.4bn – mostly accounted for by the phasing of planned rises in petrol duty, and the stamp duty holiday for the first-time buyers – with much of it clawed back in future years.

The Guardian - Business

Sutherland said the Co-op bank's bad loans were mostly accounted for by Britannia, with half of all its poorly performing retail loans and three quarters of its roughly £440m corporate bad debts blamed on over-zealous loan agreements sold by the building society.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mostly accounts for" when you want to highlight the main reason or factor contributing to a specific outcome, without implying it is the only factor. For instance, "The improved sales figures mostly account for the company's profitability this quarter".

Common error

Avoid using "mostly accounts for" when the contributing factor is negligible or insignificant. If other factors play an equal or greater role, consider phrases like "contributes to" or "is a factor in" to avoid overemphasizing one element.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly accounts for" functions as a causal connector, linking a primary cause to its effect or outcome. As Ludwig AI explains, this indicates that something is the main but not exclusive reason for a particular result. The phrase is used to explain or provide reasons for observed phenomena.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mostly accounts for" is a grammatically correct causal connector used to indicate that something is the primary, but not exclusive, reason for a particular outcome. According to Ludwig AI, it's effective for explaining causes and effects across various domains. While it's most frequently used in scientific contexts, it also appears in news media and formal business settings. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overstating the significance of a single factor and to consider alternative phrasings like "largely explains" or "primarily contributes to" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely explains

This alternative replaces "accounts for" with "explains" and "mostly" with "largely", emphasizing the explanatory aspect.

primarily contributes to

This focuses on the contribution aspect, using "primarily" instead of "mostly".

mainly responsible for

This shifts the focus to responsibility, indicating the primary cause.

chiefly attributed to

This suggests a formal attribution, using "chiefly" for emphasis.

substantially explains

This highlights the explanatory power, using "substantially" to denote a significant portion.

plays a major role in

This emphasizes the role played, indicating a significant influence.

is largely due to

This emphasizes causation and is a more passive construction.

is mainly a result of

This highlights the outcome and uses a more descriptive phrasing.

considerably influences

This focuses on the influence exerted, highlighting the impact.

is greatly attributed to

This is more emphatic, indicating a strong degree of attribution.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly accounts for" in a sentence?

Use "mostly accounts for" to indicate that something is the primary reason for a particular result. For example, "The increase in efficiency mostly accounts for the rise in production."

What are some alternatives to "mostly accounts for"?

You can use alternatives like "largely explains", "primarily contributes to", or "mainly responsible for" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "mostly accounts for" in formal writing?

Yes, "mostly accounts for" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing causes and effects. However, ensure that the context supports the claim and that you're not overstating the importance of a single factor.

What's the difference between "mostly accounts for" and "entirely accounts for"?

"Mostly accounts for" indicates that something is the primary but not sole reason for an outcome, while "entirely accounts for" suggests it's the only reason. Use "mostly accounts for" when other factors might also contribute.