mostly right

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly right" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is generally accurate but may have some minor errors or exceptions. Example: "While the report is mostly right, there are a few inaccuracies that need to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

They're mostly right.

The New York Times

And I was mostly right.

The New York Times

And they're mostly right.

Harvard Business Review

He's mostly right.

The New York Times

Or, at least "mostly" right.

The Washington Post

He turned out to be mostly right.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"We're mostly right-wingers over there".

The New York Times

It appeared to be mostly right-sided and compressing the optic nerve.

Cornell University

"When you talk about how the brain affects athletic performance, that's mostly right-brain activity.

The New York Times - Sports

J is mostly right-associative: NVNVN = NV(NVN), VVVVV = VV VVV), but left associative with conjunctions: VCVCV = (VCV CV.

Stanford University

They're mostly right-wing, sure.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly right", follow it with a clarifying statement or detail specifying the area where the statement might not be entirely accurate. This adds transparency and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly right" when there is significant inaccuracy. If the inaccuracy drastically alters the meaning or impact, a more cautious phrase like "partially correct" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly right" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a statement, assessment, or piece of information. It suggests that the subject in question is largely accurate but not entirely without fault or inaccuracy. Ludwig AI validates this through the presence of numerous examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mostly right" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate a high degree of accuracy with some reservations. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent usage across various domains, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While versatile, it's important to use "mostly right" judiciously, ensuring that the inaccuracies are minor and do not significantly alter the intended meaning. Using alternatives like "largely correct" or "generally accurate" can provide nuanced variations in meaning, depending on the specific context. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication, as validated by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly accurate

A direct synonym focusing on the high degree of accuracy.

largely correct

Emphasizes the extent of correctness being more significant than the incorrectness.

largely true

Highlights a high degree of truthfulness with the possibility of minor inaccuracies.

generally accurate

Focuses on the overall accuracy while allowing for minor inaccuracies.

fairly accurate

Suggests a good level of accuracy with room for improvement.

substantially correct

Highlights that the majority of the information or statement is without error.

primarily accurate

Indicates that the accuracy is the dominant characteristic.

accurate for the most part

Rephrases to put emphasis on the accurate aspect, allowing for exceptions.

correct in essence

Highlights that the central idea is right, even if details might be off.

accurate on the whole

Similar to "mostly", suggesting overall accuracy when considering all factors.

FAQs

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

You can use "mostly right" to indicate something is generally accurate, but not entirely. For example, "The weather forecast was mostly right, but it rained a bit more than predicted."

What's a good alternative to "mostly right"?

Alternatives include "largely correct", "generally accurate", or "accurate for the most part", depending on the degree of accuracy you want to convey.

Is it better to say "mostly right" or "completely right"?

"Completely right" implies total accuracy, while "mostly right" suggests some minor inaccuracies exist. Use "completely right" only when something is 100% accurate; otherwise, "mostly right" is more appropriate.

What does it mean when someone says something is "mostly right"?

It means the statement is generally correct or accurate but contains some errors, omissions, or details that are not entirely precise. It acknowledges a good degree of accuracy without claiming perfection.