mostly yes

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "mostly yes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to give a partially affirmative answer to a question. For example, if someone asked, "Did you enjoy the play?" You could answer, "Mostly yes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Mostly yes.

University of California, Berkeley

Mostly, yes, Marston said.

The New Yorker

I believe, mostly, yes.

The Guardian - Opinion

JON LEE ANDERSON: Mostly, yes.

The New Yorker

I think the answer is mostly, yes.

The New York Times

Mostly, yes, especially the big chains.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Hasson did not speak during Monday's hearing other than to give his age, say he completed two years of college and answer mostly yes-or-no questions from the judge.

The Washington Post

Guns N' Roses, in contrast, spent Friday night before an audience of mostly yes-men — the band's devoted fans — at the sold-out T-Mobile Arena.

Los Angeles Times

Surprisingly, although they were given ample time and opportunity to respond to the few short, mostly yes-or-no questions, four organizations felt that the matter was not important enough to provide any answer at all and thus scored an F on this report card: HRC, GLAAD, NLGJA and NCLR.

HuffPost

Turnbull said Australia's foreign investment laws were very open, despite the decision regarding Ausgrid and the historic agricultural property S.Kidman and Co. "We have a very open foreign investment policy, so we mostly say yes, we almost invariably say yes but from time to time we say no and we make no bones about that and China respects that," Turnbull said.

The Guardian

◦ Yes, completely ◦ Yes, mostly ◦ Yes, some of it ◦ Yes, vaguely ◦ No, not at all 3.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mostly yes", follow up with an explanation to clarify the extent of your agreement or the reasons for your reservations. This provides context and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "mostly yes" as a standalone answer without providing further context. Without explanation, it can leave the other person unsure of your actual stance or concerns. Always elaborate to ensure clear communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mostly yes" functions as an adverbial modifier qualifying the affirmative response. It indicates a qualified or partial agreement, where the affirmative aspect is dominant but not absolute. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and commonly used expression in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mostly yes" serves as a valuable tool for expressing nuanced agreement. It's grammatically sound, widely recognized, and suitable for various contexts, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis. While it communicates an affirmative stance, remember to provide clarifying details to avoid ambiguity and ensure effective communication. The analysis shows the phrase is very common in News & Media, science and academia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yes, but not entirely

Emphasizes a partial agreement with clear limitations.

yes, with reservations

Explicitly states the affirmation with noted concerns.

positive for the most part

Indicates a predominantly positive response.

more yes than no

Quantifies the response leaning towards 'yes'.

affirmative, with exceptions

Implies a yes answer that is not valid in every single situation.

largely affirmative

Emphasizes the extent of agreement is large but not complete.

mostly in favor

Highlights that there are positive feelings in general.

generally in agreement

Highlights the overall agreement with some possible reservations.

kind of yes

Softens the affirmation, suggesting it is not wholehearted.

affirmative to a degree

Focuses on the presence of affirmation, but limited.

FAQs

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

You can use "mostly yes" to express partial agreement or qualified affirmation. For example: "Are you satisfied with the results? Mostly yes, but there's room for improvement."

What are some alternatives to saying "mostly yes"?

Alternatives include "largely affirmative", "generally in agreement", or "positive for the most part", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "mostly yes" or "yes, but"?

Both "mostly yes" and "yes, but" indicate partial agreement. "Mostly yes" is a more concise way to express a generally positive sentiment, while "yes, but" directly introduces a reservation or counterpoint.

When is it better to use "mostly yes" over a simple "yes"?

Use "mostly yes" when you generally agree with something, but have reservations, concerns, or exceptions. It accurately reflects your position without overstating your agreement.