mostly when it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mostly when it" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs frequently or primarily during specific circumstances or times. Example: "I find myself feeling more creative mostly when it rains, as the sound of raindrops inspires my writing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

For example, Roger G. Ackerman, the former chairman of Corning, sold $14 million of the company's stock last year, mostly when it was trading at about $57 a share, or seven times its current price.

The New York Times

He rebounded the ball mostly when it came near him and scored 13 points on 13 shots, with eight rebounds and a block.

The New York Times - Sports

Unlike merchandise pegged to Christmas or back-to-school shopping tied to the calendar, cold-weather gear is bought mostly when it is needed.

The New York Times

National Grid makes the payments in return for wind farms not generating electricity, mostly when it is very windy and there is low demand.

The Times

Mostly when it comes to the history of football there are far more tales of kicking misery than sweet stories of success.

The New York Times - Sports

The value of these developments and discussions are variable, though (with the exception of VAWA) they are particularly interesting because they say something striking about how we talk about violence against women – namely, that we talk about it mostly when it involves sex, or a bit of Hollywood glamour, and when can cordon off the behavior.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

But mostly, when I daydreamed, it was about being an author.

The New Yorker

I noticed that I lived with a free pass to be myself mostly when I lost it -- when I did try shaving my legs a few times over the years.

HuffPost

Yes, well it is, it is mostly when I'm careless, or I'm somewhat careless with the food, or I don't always have time to eat when I should eat.

BMC Public Health

Sometimes I get caught in a situation where I need it, mostly when I want to tip someone.

TechCrunch

But for me I did it mostly when I was happy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mostly when it" to clearly indicate the primary circumstance or condition under which an event or action typically occurs. This helps to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly when it" if the condition is not truly the predominant one. If the action occurs under various conditions, a more general phrase like "sometimes when it" or "often when it" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly when it" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying a verb or clause to specify the circumstance under which an action predominantly occurs. It indicates a condition or situation that frequently triggers a particular outcome, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly when it" serves as a useful adverbial clause to specify the primary condition under which an event typically happens. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct, and while it might not be the most frequent phrase, it is commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the condition you specify is truly the most predominant to avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "primarily when it" or "mainly when it" can also be used to convey a similar meaning. The phrase holds a neutral formality, being appropriate for a wide variety of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily when it

Replaces "mostly" with "primarily", indicating the action happens chiefly under the specified condition.

mainly when it

Substitutes "mostly" with "mainly", suggesting a principal but not necessarily exclusive condition.

usually when it

Changes "mostly" to "usually", indicating a common but not invariable occurrence.

typically when it

Replaces "mostly" with "typically", denoting a representative or standard condition.

generally when it

Substitutes "mostly" with "generally", suggesting a broad or common condition.

in most cases when it

Adds "in most cases" to clarify that the condition applies to the majority of instances.

more often than not when it

Replaces "mostly" with a longer phrase emphasizing the frequency of the condition.

frequently when it

Substitutes "mostly" with "frequently", highlighting the regularity of the condition.

as a rule when it

Changes the structure to indicate a general principle or guideline for when something happens.

on the whole when it

Replaces "mostly" with "on the whole", suggesting that the condition generally applies.

FAQs

How can I use "mostly when it" in a sentence?

Use "mostly when it" to specify the primary condition or circumstance under which an action or event typically happens. For example, "I feel most creative "mostly when it rains"".

What are some alternatives to using "mostly when it"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily when it", "mainly when it", or "usually when it" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "mostly when it"?

Yes, the phrase "mostly when it" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate the primary condition under which something occurs. It is acceptable in both writing and speech.

What's the difference between "mostly when it" and "only when it"?

"Mostly when it" indicates a predominant condition, suggesting the action happens frequently under that circumstance, while "only when it" implies exclusivity, meaning the action happens solely under that specific condition.