mostly made up of

USAGE SUMMARY

"mostly made up of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that is composed of mostly one type of thing or element. For example: "This collection is mostly made up of paintings from the Impressionist period."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The mobs are mostly made up of local people, he thinks.

The Washington Post

The Afghan Taliban is mostly made up of Pashtuns.

The Washington Post

An organism mostly made up of dudes, many with baseball caps on their heads.

University of Pennsylvania

The festival orchestra is a young ensemble, mostly made up of conservatory students and recent graduates.

The New York Times - Arts

Many of the lHl1 lobes are mostly made up of lithic deposits and exhibit backwash modifications.

Nature

Her work for The Observer was mostly made up of last-minute assignments.

The Guardian - Arts

Any list of my favourite songs is mostly made up of sad love songs.

The Guardian - Music

There are about seven of us here today, mostly made up of students from Oxford University.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Twitter also lets you download an archive of your data, mostly made up of your Tweets.

The Guardian - Tech

And for a while the crowd, mostly made up of fishing families, showed remarkable restraint.

The Guardian

The nonmanufacturing index is mostly made up of services, which represent two-thirds of the economy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For scientific or formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "primarily composed of" or "largely constituted by" for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "mostly made up of" in formal reports or academic papers; use more specific or sophisticated phrasing to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the composition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly made up of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating its composition or constitution. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

26%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mostly made up of" is a versatile and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to describe the composition of something. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use. While common across various contexts, including news, science, and academia, more precise alternatives may be preferred in formal writing to enhance clarity. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject and components are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Its frequency is high, making it a readily understandable choice in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily composed of

Emphasizes the components that constitute the majority of something.

largely constituted by

Implies that something is substantially formed or created by particular elements.

predominantly consisting of

Highlights the major part or element that something comprises.

mainly comprised of

Focuses on the key components that include something, but it's also the most literal change.

chiefly formed from

Indicates that something is mainly or principally created or developed from certain components.

generally composed of

Shows what something usually consists of.

substantially comprised of

Highlights the significant portion of components.

mostly constituted of

Constitutes the elements which form something.

primarily constituted by

Constitutes the parts that form the majority of something.

largely consisting of

Consists mostly of specific elements.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly made up of" in a sentence?

You can use "mostly made up of" to describe the primary components of something. For example, "The team is mostly made up of volunteers" or "The atmosphere is mostly made up of nitrogen".

What are some alternatives to "mostly made up of"?

Alternatives include "primarily composed of", "largely constituted by", or "predominantly consisting of", depending on the level of formality and precision required.

Is it appropriate to use "mostly made up of" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "mostly made up of" might be considered less formal. In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "primarily composed of" or "chiefly formed from" for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "mostly made up of" and "entirely made up of"?

"Mostly made up of" indicates that the subject primarily consists of certain components, but may include others, while "entirely made up of" implies that the subject is exclusively composed of those components and nothing else.