mostly alike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly alike" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to two or more things that have more similarities than differences. For example, "The two paintings were mostly alike, but one had some discoloration on its surface."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But the samples that children gather on their own turn out to look mostly alike -- unstructured, opaque, unrevealing of detail.

The New York Times - Science

$24.99 Related How Women Think (September 10, 2006) Excerpt: The Male Brain (randomhouse.com) Louann Brizendines Web Site Brizendine nods to the fact that the brains of men and women are mostly alike.

The New York Times - Books

Dungy agreed that the two are mostly alike -- Edwards is a more fiery personality, the controlled Dungy said -- and said their greatest similarity is a belief in fundamental football, that a team must be able to run and stop the run to succeed.

The New York Times - Sports

The candidates are mostly alike in their policies, so what's inevitably going to separate them is the strength of their personalities and clearly everyone wants to be the toughest, straight-shootingest, least flip-floppingist son of a bitch on the ballot.

Vice

Furthermore, although the expression patterns and subcellular polarities of PIN3 and PIN7 are mostly alike, some minor differences in their subcellular polarities have been found.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Matching iPads to owners can be particularly tricky, since the tablets mostly look alike and password protection makes it difficult for airlines to access the owners' details.

The Economist

Humans are humans and they're mostly all alike except for sports players.

TechCrunch

(No tracks.) Mr. Baron Cohen succeeded in seducing politicians and pornography stars alike, mostly because Ali G's phenomenal stupidity made the character seem harmless.

The New York Times

Both visitors and locals alike mostly shunned the city's epicenter in favor of the trendier enclaves of Buckhead and Midtown.

Huffington Post

Martin and Sean, who dress alike mostly, are one and yet not one; Sean, like most imaginary creatures of the screen, has independence and agency, and sometimes the two are at odds.

Los Angeles Times

He will be mourned by friends and a few old foes alike, but mostly by his beloved family, his carers and especially Jenny Stringer, his friend and companion for many years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly alike", ensure that the context provides clarity on the specific aspects that are similar and, if necessary, mention the key differences to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly alike" when the items being compared have significant differences. It is more accurate to use phrases that emphasize the differences or acknowledge both similarities and distinctions clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly alike" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of similarity, but not complete identity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe things that share more similarities than differences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mostly alike" is a grammatically sound and useful way to express that two or more things share considerable similarities without being completely identical. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves as a descriptive adjective phrase, communicating a balanced view by acknowledging both similarities and differences. While its usage is not extremely frequent, it appears across diverse contexts, particularly in news and scientific domains. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context provides sufficient clarity and avoid overstating the degree of similarity. Alternatives such as "largely similar" or "mainly the same" can be employed to refine the nuance of the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely similar

Emphasizes the extent of similarity, suggesting that the differences are minor.

mainly the same

Focuses on the sameness, highlighting that the primary aspect is identical.

virtually identical

Suggests a very high degree of similarity, bordering on being the same.

broadly comparable

Indicates similarity in a general sense, suitable for comparing different entities.

for the most part, similar

Highlights that there might be exceptions, but similarity is dominant.

in many respects, alike

Focuses on particular aspects where the subjects are similar.

closely resemble

Highlights the visual or superficial similarity.

generally akin

Implies a natural resemblance or correspondence.

much the same

Indicates a high level of agreement or indistinguishability.

bears a strong resemblance

Emphasizes the noticeable and evident similarities.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly alike" in a sentence?

You can use "mostly alike" to indicate that two or more things share significant similarities but aren't completely identical. For example, "The twins are "mostly alike", but one has a mole on their left cheek."

What are some alternatives to "mostly alike"?

Alternatives include "largely similar", "mainly the same", or "virtually identical", depending on the degree of similarity you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "mostly alike"?

Yes, the phrase "mostly alike" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe things that share significant similarities.

What's the difference between "mostly alike" and "exactly the same"?

"Mostly alike" indicates that there are more similarities than differences, while "exactly the same" implies that there are no differences at all.