were mostly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were mostly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the predominant characteristics or conditions of a subject in the past. Example: "The results of the survey indicated that the participants were mostly satisfied with the service provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were mostly white.

The Guardian

They were mostly skeptical.

The New Yorker

They were mostly exemplary.

The New York Times

Reactions were mostly hostile.

The New York Times - Arts

Drinks were mostly unaffected.

The New York Times

Puddings were mostly delicious.

Independent

They were mostly terrific.

The New York Times

They were mostly impressed.

The New York Times

Coverts were mostly women.

The New Yorker

Entrees were mostly satisfying.

The New York Times

Minority shareholders were mostly ignored.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were mostly" to accurately reflect a situation where a majority exists, but not a complete totality. Ensure your statement allows for exceptions or variations within the described group or condition.

Common error

Avoid using "were mostly" when the reality is closer to "were all" or "were exclusively". In such cases, "were mostly" can dilute the accuracy of your statement and introduce unnecessary ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were mostly" functions as a descriptor, indicating that a subject's characteristics or states occurred predominantly but not exclusively. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to describe the main, but not the only, state of being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were mostly" is a versatile phrase used to describe a past state or condition that was predominantly true but not universally so. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and frequently used in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's important to consider if it accurately reflects the situation, avoiding overstatements or understatements of the actual prevalence. Alternative phrases, such as "were predominantly" or "were mainly", can be used to fine-tune the meaning. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively communicate the degree to which a characteristic or condition was present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were predominantly

Replaces "mostly" with "predominantly", emphasizing a stronger degree of prevalence.

were largely

Substitutes "mostly" with "largely", suggesting a significant proportion.

were mainly

Uses "mainly" instead of "mostly", indicating a primary but not exclusive condition.

were generally

Replaces "mostly" with "generally", implying a common but not universal condition.

were chiefly

Substitutes "mostly" with "chiefly", highlighting the principal element.

were primarily

Uses "primarily" instead of "mostly", stressing the main aspect.

were for the most part

Replaces "mostly" with a longer phrase, adding emphasis to the majority.

were by and large

Substitutes "mostly" with "by and large", indicating a general overview.

were in the majority

Emphasizes that they formed the majority, highlighting numerical superiority.

were to a great extent

Indicates that something was true to a substantial degree or measure.

FAQs

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

The phrase "were mostly" indicates that a majority of a group or condition exhibited a particular characteristic. For example: "The attendees "were mostly" students", meaning that students formed the largest part of the attendees.

What's a good alternative to "were mostly"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "were mostly" include phrases like "were predominantly", "were largely", or "were mainly". Choose the alternative that best reflects the degree of prevalence you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was mostly" instead of "were mostly"?

No, "was mostly" is used with singular subjects, while "were mostly" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The food was mostly delicious" (singular), but "The dishes "were mostly" delicious" (plural).

What's the difference between "were mostly" and "were entirely"?

"Were mostly" indicates a majority, implying that some exceptions existed. "Were entirely", on the other hand, indicates that all members of the group or condition exhibited the characteristic without exception. For example, "The houses "were mostly" painted white" suggests that a few houses might have been different colors, while "The houses were entirely painted white" means all of them were white.