mostly of

USAGE SUMMARY

"mostly of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is largely composed of or made up of a certain type of thing. For example: "The audience was mostly of students, with a few teachers mixed in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mostly, of course, it's funny.

The New York Times - Arts

It is comprised mostly of local stations.

The New Yorker

Early bobsleds were built mostly of wood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Forests consist mostly of acacia and teak.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Donald Eastman's set consists mostly of chairs.

The New York Times

Should cheesecake taste mostly of vanilla, or mostly of lemon?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Weapons, of course, mostly of Russian design.

The New York Times

Tuesday's speeches consisted mostly of similar generalizations.

The New York Times

But mostly, of course, it's the music.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I think we talked mostly of Ohio".

The New York Times - Arts

Tipton's direction consisted mostly of "more awkward!

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mostly of" when you want to indicate that something is primarily, but not entirely, composed of a particular element or substance. It implies that there might be minor components as well.

Common error

While "mostly of" is acceptable in many situations, consider using more precise language in formal or scientific writing. Alternatives like "primarily composed of" or "largely consisting of" might be more appropriate to convey a sense of accuracy and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its composition or primary characteristic. It specifies that a significant portion, but not necessarily all, of something is made up of or characterized by a particular element, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to describe the composition or primary characteristic of something without implying exclusivity. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used across different contexts. While common in news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing, more formal settings might benefit from more precise alternatives. The phrase serves to inform about the dominant element within a subject, and its frequent use indicates its importance in providing clarity and detail. Therefore, understanding the nuances of "mostly of" allows writers to effectively convey the composition of various subjects across different communication styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily composed of

Emphasizes composition rather than proportion.

largely consisting of

Highlights the act of consisting of something to a great extent.

mainly made up of

Focuses on the constituents and their assembly.

predominantly formed from

Stresses the process of formation from a leading element.

chiefly comprised of

Highlights the principal components.

substantially filled with

Focuses on the filling aspect and a significant amount.

generally constituted by

More formal, indicating how something is typically made up.

typically composed of

Indicates a common or usual composition.

for the most part

More idiomatic, indicating the majority.

in the majority of cases

Focuses on the frequency or prevalence.

FAQs

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

You can use "mostly of" to describe the composition of something, such as "The crowd was mostly of students" or "The dish consists mostly of vegetables".

What are some alternatives to "mostly of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "primarily composed of", "largely consisting of", or "mainly made up of".

Is it correct to say "mainly of" instead of "mostly of"?

While "mainly of" can sometimes work, "mostly of" is generally preferred when indicating that something is composed of a greater proportion of a particular element. "Mainly" often implies a singular focus, whereas "mostly" suggests a dominant but not exclusive component.

What is the difference between "mostly of" and "entirely of"?

"Mostly of" indicates that something is composed predominantly of a particular element, while "entirely of" implies that it is composed exclusively of that element. For example, "The dessert was mostly of fruit" suggests there may be other ingredients, while "The sculpture was entirely of marble" means it is only made of marble.