mostly autonomous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly autonomous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that operates independently to a significant extent but may still require some level of oversight or control. Example: "The new software is mostly autonomous, allowing it to perform tasks without human intervention while still providing options for manual adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

ESPN is run as a mostly autonomous unit based in Bristol, Conn.

The New York Times

The Grey New York office was revamped in 2001 into mostly autonomous units based on the kinds of clients they handled.

The New York Times

Also relevant is the mostly autonomous nature of IoT devices.

TechCrunch

But don't worry, fans, Slim Devices is going to remain mostly autonomous, that's the word in the forums, anyway.

TechCrunch

Both promise a higher user acceptance and satisfaction with the system, but demand that the system is capable of automatic and mostly autonomous control of the environment.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

D.C.'s city government is mostly autonomous, but the Constitution gives Congress final say over city laws.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Big, professional, autonomous, mostly independent and ferociously competitive: elite universities seem to offer all five important characteristics for saving lives.

The Economist

It exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing), and two mostly self-governing special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau).

Wikipedia

The signal is basically autonomous and mostly independent of the focal activity.

BMC Systems Biology

At the top, the ministries in recent years have mostly been autonomous baronies.

The Economist

The vehicles are running their routes mostly in autonomous mode, racking up driverless miles driven and helping GM-owned Cruise improve its tech over time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mostly autonomous" when describing systems, organizations, or processes that operate independently but may still be subject to some external control or influence. Ensure the context clarifies the extent and nature of the autonomy.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly autonomous" when the subject is entirely self-governed or has negligible external influence. In such cases, "fully autonomous" or "completely independent" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly autonomous" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the degree of independence or self-governance of a noun. Ludwig examples show its usage across various fields. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and appropriate in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mostly autonomous" is a valuable tool for describing entities that operate with significant independence but are not entirely self-governed. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media and science. When using "mostly autonomous", ensure the context clearly defines the degree and nature of the autonomy. Avoid overstating the autonomy if external controls are significant; in such cases, alternatives like "semi-autonomous" might be more suitable. Remember that "mostly autonomous" suggests greater independence than "almost autonomous", referring that it functions autonomously for the most part.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely self-governing

Emphasizes the self-governance aspect with a degree of external influence.

largely independent

Emphasizes the high degree of independence, though not absolute.

primarily independent

Highlights independence as the main characteristic, though not absolute.

substantially self-regulating

Focuses on self-regulation while acknowledging some external regulation.

mainly self-reliant

Stresses self-reliance, implying a limited need for external support.

considerably independent

Indicates a notable level of independence.

predominantly self-directed

Highlights the self-directed nature with the possibility of some external direction.

generally self-managed

Focuses on self-management with the implication of some oversight.

virtually self-sufficient

Emphasizes self-sufficiency to a very high degree.

semi-autonomous

Indicates a partial level of autonomy.

FAQs

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

You can use "mostly autonomous" to describe entities that function independently but still have some degree of external oversight. For example, "The department is "largely self-governing", but reports to the main office monthly."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "mostly autonomous"?

Alternatives include "largely independent", "primarily self-directed", or "substantially self-regulating", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "mostly autonomous" or should I use "almost autonomous"?

"Mostly autonomous" implies a greater degree of independence than "almost autonomous". "Almost autonomous" suggests the entity is close to being autonomous but not quite there, while "mostly autonomous" indicates it functions autonomously most of the time.

What's the difference between "mostly autonomous" and "semi-autonomous"?

"Mostly autonomous" suggests a high degree of independence with limited external control, while "semi-autonomous" ("semi-autonomous") indicates a partial level of autonomy, implying more significant external influence or control.