mostly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is generally positive but may have some minor flaws or issues. Example: "The movie was mostly good, with a few scenes that felt a bit rushed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That's mostly good news.

The New York Times

That is mostly good news.

Independent

That's mostly good.

The New York Times - Magazine

(He ended up getting mostly good reviews).

The New York Times

His ideas are bold and mostly good.

The Economist

Yet the record is mostly good.

The Economist

But he's been mostly good to me".

The New Yorker

These are mostly good and decent people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mostly good, except when she's in space.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

For most people, it's mostly good news.

The New York Times

Their 21-point second quarter surge was mostly good fortune.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly good", consider specifying the aspects that are not entirely positive to provide a balanced perspective. For example, instead of saying "The food was "mostly good"", try "The food was "mostly good", though the service was a bit slow".

Common error

Avoid using "mostly good" as a vague descriptor without providing context. Be specific about what makes something "mostly good" and what prevents it from being entirely positive. Without specifics, it can sound dismissive or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly good" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a generally positive quality or state with some limitations or imperfections. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as seen in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Mostly good" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something generally positive but not without minor flaws. Ludwig AI validates this, showcasing its use across diverse contexts like news, science, and general conversation. While versatile, specifying the limitations adds clarity. Alternatives include "largely positive", "generally favorable", and "predominantly positive". It's important to provide specifics rather than relying on this phrase in a too general way. Suitable for neutral registers, more formal options exist for professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely positive

Emphasizes the predominantly positive nature, similar to "mostly good" but slightly more formal.

generally favorable

Indicates a positive reception or outcome in most aspects, closely mirroring "mostly good".

predominantly positive

Highlights the dominance of positive elements, akin to "mostly good" but with stronger emphasis.

chiefly beneficial

Focuses on the advantages or benefits being the primary aspect, similar to "mostly good" when discussing outcomes.

on the whole positive

Indicates that despite some negatives, the overall impression is positive, like "mostly good".

largely satisfactory

Suggests that something meets expectations to a great extent, close in meaning to "mostly good".

fairly commendable

Highlights that something is worthy of praise to a reasonable extent, similar to "mostly good" when discussing achievements.

substantially agreeable

Indicates a high level of agreement or satisfaction, akin to "mostly good" in contexts of acceptance.

significantly advantageous

Focuses on the notable benefits or advantages, similar to "mostly good" when discussing outcomes with positive results.

appreciably acceptable

Suggests a noticeable level of acceptability or satisfaction, mirroring "mostly good" when referring to standards or expectations.

FAQs

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

You can use "mostly good" to describe something that is generally positive but has minor flaws. For instance, "The movie was "mostly good", but the ending was a bit disappointing".

What are some alternatives to saying "mostly good"?

Alternatives include "largely positive", "generally favorable", or "predominantly positive", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "mostly good" in formal writing?

While "mostly good" is acceptable, more formal alternatives like "largely satisfactory" or "substantially agreeable" might be more suitable in formal contexts.

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

"Mostly good" implies that there are some minor issues or drawbacks, whereas "completely good" suggests that something is entirely positive without any flaws. Therefore, "completely good" is a stronger statement than "mostly good".