mostly attentive and

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly attentive and" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is generally focused or engaged, but not entirely so, often in contexts related to behavior or observation. Example: "During the meeting, she was mostly attentive and contributed to the discussion when necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Service is mostly attentive and accommodating.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Brightly dressed and mostly attentive, they sat with parents or grandparents.

The New York Times - Arts

Royalty is a bit of an exaggeration, but this reporter got in simply by asking at the front desk and found service mostly attentive.

The New York Times - Food

Houellebecq disappears for a few hours to 'go shopping in Marks and Spencer' with a beautiful blonde fan called Fanny from Montpellier, but is mostly attentive.

The Guardian - Books

Late on Thursday night, during a marvelous little concert held inside a cluttered Bushwick junk shop called Goodbye Blue Monday, a mostly attentive crowd — at least a dozen people — found out.

The New York Times - Arts

The service is attentive and helpful; the crowd mostly made up of fellow hotel guests and groups of locals on a special night out.

The Guardian - Travel

THE CROWD Although children are welcome, the clientele is mostly adult, especially after 7. Servers are mostly willing and attentive, although some need a better grasp of the menu.

The New York Times

Moreover the waiters, mostly from the neighboring town of Adairsville, were pleasant, attentive, and enthusiastic about their work.

The New York Times - Travel

SERVICE Attentive and concerned.

The New York Times

SERVICE Attentive and accommodating.

The New York Times

SERVICE -- Attentive and quick.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly attentive and", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is attentive to and what additional quality or action they are performing. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly attentive and" when the subject's attentiveness is either fully present or completely absent. Use more precise language to accurately reflect the degree of attention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly attentive and" functions as a descriptive element, typically modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a state of being generally focused with an additional characteristic or action, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly attentive and" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a state of general attentiveness coupled with another attribute or action. Ludwig highlights that the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. While "mostly attentive and" may not be very common it provides a useful way to describe nuanced observations. When using the expression make sure that the subject is attentive and you have another quality to add.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally observant and

Replaces 'attentive' with 'observant', suggesting a focus on noticing details in addition to attentiveness.

largely heedful and

Substitutes 'attentive' with 'heedful', emphasizing careful attention and consideration, while maintaining the general sense.

primarily focused and

Replaces 'attentive' with 'focused', highlighting concentration and direction, while maintaining the general sense.

mainly observant and

This alternative uses "mainly" instead of "mostly", which changes the nuance without changing the meaning.

somewhat mindful and

Replaces 'attentive' with 'mindful', suggesting awareness and consideration, while maintaining the general sense.

considerably watchful and

This alternative replaces "attentive" with "watchful", focusing on observing in order to protect.

fairly observant and

This alternative uses "fairly" instead of "mostly", so it changes the intensity.

substantially engaged and

Replaces 'attentive' with 'engaged', focusing on active participation and involvement, while maintaining the general sense.

largely cognizant and

This alternative changes the word choice to "cognizant", which suggests awareness and knowledge.

noticeably perceptive and

Replaces 'attentive' with 'perceptive', suggesting insight and understanding, while maintaining the general sense.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly attentive and" in a sentence?

You can use "mostly attentive and" to describe someone who is generally focused but may have occasional lapses in attention, such as, "The student was mostly attentive and took notes during the lecture".

What's a good alternative to "mostly attentive and"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "generally observant and", "largely heedful and", or "primarily focused and".

Is "mostly attentive and" grammatically correct?

Yes, "mostly attentive and" is grammatically correct. It combines an adverb ("mostly") modifying an adjective ("attentive") with a conjunction ("and") to connect it to another element.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "mostly attentive and"?

It is appropriate to use "mostly attentive and" when you want to convey that someone or something is generally paying attention, but not consistently or completely. This is useful when describing a nuanced state of observation or engagement.