mostly but not always

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly but not always" is correct and commonly used in written English, particularly when you want to emphasize that something is usually true, but not always.
For example: "Mostly, children like candy, but not always."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

— and her answers are mostly but not always sardonic.

The New Yorker

"Mostly, but not always, because I'm the one who causes it".

The New York Times - Books

I know this because people — mostly but not always random strangers — tell me so.

The New York Times

Yet some of its raw materials – mostly, but not always, texts – are rooted in the there and then.

The Guardian

It is the book as litmus test, used mostly but not always in measuring a lurking romance.

The New York Times - Books

THE past quarter of a century has seen several bursts of selling by the world's governments, mostly but not always in benign market conditions.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Like any number of past Trevor characters -- mostly women, but not always -- Lucy will manage to live for decades off a handful of romantic recollections.

The New York Times - Books

"As we have gotten down to a core group that is mostly willing but not always able to go to work, we must shift the focus of our program," said the commissioner of the city's Human Resources Administration, Verna Eggleston.

The New York Times

If it's a really hot day, the hydrant will get busted at the beginning of the day, and providing there are people – mostly kids, but not always – taking advantage of it, the hydrants will stay turned throughout the day ("If nobody is getting wet, we'll close it").

The Guardian

The naysayers were mostly men, but not always.

Huffington Post

The increase of COR was mostly monotonic but not always linear.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mostly but not always" to add nuance to generalizations, preventing overstatements and acknowledging exceptions.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "mostly but not always" in close proximity. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly but not always" functions as an adverbial modifier, qualifying a statement to indicate that it is generally true but not universally applicable. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is both correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mostly but not always" is a versatile expression used to qualify statements, indicating a general truth with acknowledged exceptions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts. Predominantly found in news, media, and scientific writing, its function is to provide nuance and avoid overgeneralizations. While suitable for most writing, carefully consider the context and choose alternatives to avoid repetition. Remember, the key is to achieve balance and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

usually but with exceptions

Replaces "mostly" with "usually" while retaining the core meaning of a general rule that admits exceptions.

generally although not invariably

Emphasizes the generality of a statement but acknowledges that it doesn't always hold true.

typically yet not invariably

Highlights a common occurrence but notes that there are deviations from the norm.

more often than not, however, there are exceptions

Provides a longer, more explicit way of expressing a common pattern with exceptions.

predominantly but with occasional deviations

Indicates a dominant trend with infrequent departures from it.

largely but not in every case

Stresses that a statement is true for the most part but not universally.

primarily however with some exceptions

Similar to predominantly, it shows something is first but there are things that diverge.

for the most part, there are exceptions

Breaks down the idea into two simple phrases, that is a general rule but has exceptions.

almost always but occasionally not

Almost always' is strong that mostly and the "occasionally not" shows the exceptions.

in most instances, though not always

Emphasizes prevalence but acknowledges the existing differences in all instances.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly but not always" in a sentence?

Use "mostly but not always" to qualify a statement that is generally true but has exceptions. For example, "The trains are "usually on time", but "mostly but not always"."

What phrases are similar to "mostly but not always"?

Similar phrases include "usually but not always", "generally but not always", or "typically but not always", all indicating a tendency with exceptions.

Is it redundant to say "mostly but not always"?

While both "mostly" and "not always" imply a lack of universality, using them together emphasizes the qualification, clarifying that the statement is generally, but not invariably, true.

Can "mostly but not always" be used in formal writing?

"Mostly but not always" is suitable for various contexts, including formal writing, when precision and acknowledgment of exceptions are important. More formal alternatives might be preferred for highly academic or legal contexts, though.