mostly common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly common" is not correct or usable in written English.
You could say "commonly used" or "widely used" instead. For example, "The app is a widely used social media platform."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Calcium deficiency is mostly common in women and girls.

Stanford University

In fact, it's mostly common sense -- and above all it's reassuring.

The New York Times

Communism (mostly common property) and capitalism (mostly private property) have both failed to get the balance right.

The Guardian

Mostly common statistical errors are utilized to evaluate the performance of these models and identify the most accurate model.

Applied Energy

The rules are mostly common sense, but strictly observed, as if a children's summer camp had suddenly been invaded by mature, scrupulously careful Eagle Scouts.

The New York Times - Travel

People magazine in 1974 called her "the biggest, loudest and, indisputably, the rudest mouth on the battleground where feminist activists and radical politics join in mostly common cause".

The New York Times

No differences were found in prefrontal activity when preparing to inhibit an automatic response was compared to wholly inhibiting an automatic response, suggesting a mostly common network.

Brain and Cognition

Polydrug use is mostly common among adolescents and young adults, often with the intention of enhancing or counteracting the effects of another drug.

European Psychiatry

This chapter highlights seven content bloopers that are mostly common and may invite serious damages to the purpose of a Website.

Web Bloopers 60 Common Web Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The way to do this, it suggests, is to give more space to pedestrians as well as to cyclists and public transport.This is mostly common sense.

The Economist

Almost all the fish roasted on Abu Nuwas now — mostly common carp and its varietal cousins — are all raised on farms scattered along the Euphrates River south of Baghdad.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "commonly used" or "widely accepted" to enhance clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly common" in academic papers or formal reports. Even though the phrase appears in published sources, substituting it with alternatives like "generally accepted" or "commonly found" will improve the perceived professionalism of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly common" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, intending to modify a noun by indicating a high degree of prevalence. Ludwig AI flags it as potentially incorrect usage in formal English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mostly common" is used to indicate that something is prevalent or frequently encountered. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as potentially incorrect in standard English, advising the use of alternatives like "commonly used" or "widely accepted". While the phrase appears across various contexts, including science and news media, its grammatical correctness is debated. For formal writing, it's best to opt for more polished alternatives to enhance clarity and credibility. Considering the potential for misinterpretation or negative perception, especially in academic and professional settings, choosing a more conventional phrase is recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commonly used

Emphasizes frequent utilization.

widely used

Highlights broad application or acceptance.

generally common

Suggests widespread occurrence or acceptance.

typically common

Focuses on what is usual or expected.

frequently observed

Highlights the regularity of seeing or noticing something.

ordinarily found

Emphasizes the usual location or discovery of something.

predominantly common

Indicates something is common to a greater degree than other things.

largely prevalent

Emphasizes the broad extent of something's occurrence.

mainly typical

Highlights typicality as the principal characteristic.

mostly typical

Indicates that something is typical in most cases but not necessarily all.

FAQs

How can I use a phrase similar to "mostly common" correctly?

Instead of "mostly common", consider using more standard phrases like "commonly used", "widely accepted", or "generally found" depending on the context.

What are some better alternatives to "mostly common" in academic writing?

In academic contexts, it's better to use phrases like "typically observed", "frequently encountered", or "predominantly present" for greater precision.

Is there a difference between "mostly common" and "very common"?

While both suggest prevalence, "very common" is generally more accepted in standard English. "Mostly common" is often flagged as grammatically awkward, so choosing "very common" can improve clarity.

When is it acceptable to use "mostly common"?

While not strictly incorrect, "mostly common" is often perceived as less polished. In informal settings, its use might be acceptable, but for formal writing, replacing it with alternatives like "generally common" is advisable.