mostly so that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly so that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the primary reason or purpose for an action, often implying that there are other reasons as well. Example: "She chose to work late mostly so that she could finish the project ahead of the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

We're setting it in the '90s mostly so that Janeane can smoke onstage.

The New York Times

The group had no real operations and existed mostly so that Stone could refer to its acronym.

The New Yorker

After graduation, he enrolled in California Western School of Law, mostly so that he could go to the beach.

The New Yorker

On June 1, Mr. Strickland and Mr. Nuti finally spoke — by telephone, though — and mostly so that NCR could say goodbye.

The New York Times

"It was mostly so that I could tolerate centuries," he said in an e-mail, referring to rides of 100 miles.

The New York Times

Yes, but … And don't those selfies now exist exclusively as a method to convince people that you are nicer than you are, mostly so that they will sleep with you?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Still, the battery portion is mostly functional, so that's not really a hit against it.

TechCrunch

I'm not Christian, but my mother was, and my relatives mostly are, so that was okay with me.

HuffPost

The woman who inspired this story — a real woman — she spoke Kaqchikel, or mostly Kaqchikel, so that's where it came from.

Los Angeles Times

Over the past 15 years, Roth's production has been so steady, so various and (mostly) so excellent that his vote has been, inevitably, split.

The New York Times - Books

"But that was mostly so there wouldn't be any evidence that could be reported," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly so that", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates the primary, but not necessarily exclusive, reason for an action. Avoid ambiguity by specifying other contributing factors if they exist.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly so that" when the reason is genuinely exclusive or singular. In such cases, use "only so that" or "solely so that" for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly so that" functions as a subordinating conjunction introducing a purpose clause. It indicates the primary intention or reason behind an action while acknowledging that other contributing factors may also be present. Ludwig examples confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

19%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly so that" serves as a useful conjunction to introduce a primary reason or purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and used across various contexts, though it's most prevalent in News & Media. The phrase is generally acceptable in most registers, but remember that it suggests the given reason isn't the only one. Consider using more precise alternatives like "primarily in order that" when greater emphasis is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily in order that

Emphasizes the primary intention more strongly than "mostly so that".

predominantly so as to

Similar to 'mostly', but implies a greater degree of prevalence.

mainly for the purpose of

Highlights the purpose as the main reason.

largely with the intention of

Focuses on the intention behind the action.

chiefly to the end that

A more formal way of expressing the main goal.

principally with the aim of

Stresses the principal aim or objective.

for the most part in order to

Emphasizes that it's mostly for this reason but not exclusively.

substantially so that

Indicates a significant portion of the reason is that.

primarily with a view to

Focuses on a specific view or perspective.

in large part to

Highlights a significant portion of the reason for an action.

FAQs

What does "mostly so that" mean?

The phrase "mostly so that" indicates the primary, but not necessarily the only, reason or purpose for doing something. It implies that other reasons might also contribute.

How can I use "mostly so that" in a sentence?

Use "mostly so that" to introduce a clause that explains the main reason behind an action. For example: "She studied late, "mostly so that" she could pass the exam."

What are some alternatives to "mostly so that"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily in order that", "mainly for the purpose of", or "largely with the intention of" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "mostly so that" and "only so that"?

"Mostly so that" implies that there are other reasons, while "only so that" indicates that the stated reason is the sole purpose. Therefore, "mostly so that" is less restrictive than "only so that".