mostly speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly speaking" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used informally to indicate that what follows is generally true but may have exceptions. Example: "Mostly speaking, the project has been successful, though there were a few setbacks."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"But a fully rounded Chinese woman on Broadway, mostly speaking her native language — and she is a lead character?

The New York Times

As Joan of Arc, a mostly speaking part, Dörte Lyssewski whips up the melodrama that is asked for.

The New York Times - Arts

Most live in villages accessible only by boat or plane, scratching out subsistence lives, mostly speaking an indigenous language called Miskito.

The New York Times

During the first few weeks, I ended up mostly speaking to her mother, as she stayed withdrawn.

Huffington Post

I love John Forté, and that's just mostly speaking about current artists in terms of people who know how to take a complex ideas and put them across.

Huffington Post

However, those who reported mostly speaking Spanish exhibited significantly lower overall HRQoL (p = 0.001).

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Firefighter Martin mostly spoke matter-of-factly.

The New York Times

They also mostly speak Germanic languages.

The Economist

I speak Tamil, which is mostly spoken in southern India.

The New York Times

They mostly speak Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An additional 600 planned apartments are mostly spoken for.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly speaking", ensure the context allows for exceptions. Be prepared to clarify any potential ambiguities with specific details.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly speaking" to make sweeping claims without sufficient evidence. Acknowledge the limitations of the statement to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly speaking" functions as an introductory adverbial phrase. It serves to qualify or limit the scope of a statement, indicating that it is generally true but may have exceptions. It is used to soften claims and acknowledge potential variations, as can be seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly speaking" is an adverbial phrase used to qualify statements, indicating that they are generally true but not absolute. While considered acceptable, more formal alternatives like "generally speaking" or "largely speaking" may be preferred in certain contexts. Ludwig's analysis reveals that the phrase is most commonly found in news and media, scientific articles, and wiki entries. Ludwig also suggests being mindful of overgeneralization and providing clarifications when using this phrase. As shown by Ludwig AI, while not incorrect, its usage should be carefully considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally speaking

Emphasizes a broad statement with possible exceptions.

largely speaking

Similar to 'generally', but suggests a greater proportion.

basically speaking

Indicates a fundamental or essential point.

usually speaking

Highlights typical behavior or occurrences.

particularly speaking

Focuses on a specific aspect or detail.

especially speaking

Similar to 'particularly', but with increased emphasis.

overwhelmingly speaking

Suggests a dominant or prevalent trend.

in general terms

Offers a broad overview without specific details.

on the whole

Considers the overall situation or outcome.

for the most part

Indicates that something is mainly true, but not entirely.

FAQs

What does "mostly speaking" mean?

The phrase "mostly speaking" indicates that what is being said is generally true, but there may be exceptions or situations where it doesn't apply. It's similar to saying "generally speaking".

Is "mostly speaking" grammatically correct?

While not always preferred in formal writing, "mostly speaking" is used and understood. More formal alternatives include "generally speaking" or "largely speaking".

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

You can use "mostly speaking" to qualify a statement that is generally true. For example, "Mostly speaking, people enjoy sunny weather."

What are some alternatives to "mostly speaking"?

Alternatives to "mostly speaking" include "in general", "generally", "for the most part", or "by and large".