mostly well

USAGE SUMMARY

"mostly well" is not correct in written English.
The correct version is "mostly well done." You can use this phrase when you want to praise someone's effort or work. For example, "Your song was mostly well done, but there are a few places that could use some improvement."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

In fact, they are mostly well kept.

The New York Times

It was mostly well reviewed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mostly well performed and writing excellent.

The Guardian

The book was mostly well reviewed, but it disappeared fast.

The New Yorker

The clothes, too, are mostly well lit and arrestingly displayed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet all of this was (mostly) well done.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Her poetry was mostly well-received.

Independent

THE CROWD Mostly well-dressed adults.

The New York Times

Montgomery is a mostly well-educated, politically liberal enclave.

The New York Times

Interviewing 150 mostly well-off women, Warner draws two conclusions.

The New York Times

At least, however, The Beauty Myth was mostly well-researched.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "mostly well" with grammatically correct alternatives like "mostly well done" when describing actions, or "mostly good" when describing general states or qualities.

Common error

Avoid using "well" directly before a past participle. Instead of "mostly well received", use "mostly well received", or rephrase to "generally well-received".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly well" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to qualify the degree to which something is "well". However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is not grammatically correct in standard written English. It needs to be revised to "mostly well done" or another suitable alternative depending on context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "mostly well" appears in various sources, including news articles, scientific papers, and wikis, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate construction is "mostly well done" or alternatives like "largely satisfactory" or "generally good", depending on the context. The phrase attempts to convey that something is largely satisfactory but falls short of grammatical correctness, making it unsuitable for formal writing. Therefore, it's advisable to use alternative expressions to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely satisfactory

Emphasizes that the overall quality or outcome is satisfactory, with only minor imperfections.

generally adequate

Suggests that the subject meets the basic requirements or standards, but may not be exceptional.

predominantly favorable

Highlights that the majority of aspects or features are positive or advantageous.

mainly positive

Indicates that the overall sentiment or assessment is positive, with only minor drawbacks.

for the most part good

Acknowledges that there may be some issues or shortcomings, but the overall quality is good.

substantially acceptable

Implies that the subject is largely acceptable, with only minor reservations or objections.

considerably effective

Suggests that the subject is quite effective in achieving its intended purpose or outcome.

largely successful

Indicates that the overall endeavor or undertaking has been successful, with only minor setbacks.

pretty good overall

Offers a more casual assessment of the subject, indicating that it is generally good, but may not be exceptional.

mostly alright

A more colloquial way of saying that something is generally acceptable or satisfactory.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "mostly well"?

Consider using "mostly well done" for actions or tasks, or "generally good" when referring to qualities or states.

Is "mostly well" ever correct in written English?

While "mostly well" appears in some contexts, it's often considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for alternatives like "mostly well done" or "largely satisfactory" depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "mostly well done" in a sentence?

You can use "mostly well done" to praise someone's work, like in the sentence: "Your presentation was "mostly well done", but there's room for improvement in the conclusion."

Which is better, "mostly well received" or "generally well-received"?

"Generally well-received" is grammatically preferred and more widely accepted. "Mostly well received" can be improved by rephrasing.