mostly done

USAGE SUMMARY

"mostly done" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that is almost but not quite completed. For example, you could say "I'm mostly done with my book report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"For now I've mostly done soups.

The New York Times

The deal was mostly done in secret.

The New York Times

It's mostly done by the female – the mother or grandmothers".

Independent

Book time was mostly done, but the evening wasn't.

The New York Times

His early drawings were mostly done in charcoal.

The New York Times - Arts

Casual work is mostly done by the young.

The Guardian - Business

In the past, the Bundeswehr has mostly done easyish jobs, even in distant places.

The Economist

Hence the importance of the first couple of years after the soldiers' work is mostly done.

The Economist

The AK party government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan has mostly done well.

The Economist

In Europe, this is mostly done by using power lines to communicate.

The Economist

Clearly, the Disney-published book was mostly done before the split.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing progress on a project, use "mostly done" to accurately reflect that the majority of work has been completed, but some tasks still remain. This provides a clear indication of the project's current status without overstating completion.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly done" when only a small portion of the task is complete. This can mislead others about the true state of progress. Instead, quantify the amount completed with phrases like "partially done" or "just started".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly done" functions as a modifier to a verb, indicating the degree to which an action has been completed. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable expression in written English. It describes a state of near-completion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly done" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express that something is nearly complete but not entirely finished. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to modify a verb, indicating the degree of completion. It is commonly found in News & Media, Science contexts, with a neutral formality level. To improve your writing, use "mostly done" to provide precise updates on project status, but avoid overstating completion when tasks are only partially finished. Alternative phrases such as "largely completed" and "almost finished" offer similar meanings, adjusting the nuance based on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely completed

Replaces "done" with "completed", emphasizing the action's fulfillment but largely remains the same.

almost finished

Uses a different verb ("finished") and adverb ("almost"), focusing on the remaining portion.

nearing completion

Expresses the process of approaching completion rather than the state of being done.

virtually complete

Emphasizes the high degree of completion, implying only minor tasks remain.

substantially achieved

Shifts the focus to achievement, suitable when discussing goals or objectives.

primarily executed

Suitable in formal contexts, replacing "done" with "executed" to highlight the performance of a task.

mainly concluded

Suggests a more formal or definitive end to a process or activity.

for the most part, done

Adds a qualifier ("for the most part") to reinforce the incomplete nature.

practically finalized

Emphasizes the practicality of the final stages being in place.

essentially wrapped up

Uses a more colloquial term ("wrapped up") to imply conclusion with emphasis on the wrapping up.

FAQs

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

You can use "mostly done" to indicate that something is nearly completed. For example, "The report is "mostly done", I just need to add the conclusion".

What are some alternatives to "mostly done"?

Some alternatives to "mostly done" include "largely completed", "almost finished", or "nearing completion" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "most done" instead of "mostly done"?

While "most" can function as an adjective, "mostly done" is the idiomatic and grammatically preferred way to express near completion. "Most done" sounds awkward and is not commonly used.

What's the difference between "mostly done" and "completely done"?

"Mostly done" indicates that a task is largely finished but not entirely, while "completely done" signifies that the task is fully finished with no remaining steps.