18 Other Ways to Say Mostly (With Examples)

You know that feeling when you keep using the same word over and over again? It happens to the best of us. When you want to talk about things that are almost true or happen often, you probably use mostly. There are better ways to say mostly that make your writing pop. Let’s look at some super simple options that will help you sound much more better when you speak or write to your friends and coworkers.

18 Other Ways to Say Mostly (With Examples)

For the Most Part

This is a very friendly way to explain that something is usually true. You can use it when you are talking about a group of things or a long day. It sounds very relaxed and professional at the same time. People use this when they want to show that while things are not perfect, they are still very good. It is a great choice for emails or just chatting with your family about your busy weekly schedule.

For the most part, I enjoyed the long movie.
The kids were quiet for the most part during dinner.
It was a sunny day for the most part.
For the most part, the project is finished now.
My friends are very helpful for the most part.
The food was delicious for the most part.

Mainly

Mainly is a short and punchy word that gets right to the point. You use it when you want to talk about the biggest reason for something. It helps your reader understand what matters the most in your sentence. I love using this word because it is very clear and easy for everyone to understand. It works well when you are describing your favorite hobbies or why you decided to go on a fun vacation this year.

I eat healthy food mainly to feel better.
We moved here mainly for the warm weather.
The book is mainly about a brave dog.
I use my computer mainly for my work.
They play outside mainly when it is sunny.
The cake is mainly made of dark chocolate.

Chiefly

This word sounds a little bit fancy but it is still very easy to use. It means that something is the primary focus of what you are talking about. You can use it when you want to highlight the most important part of a story. It is a smart way to change your pace and keep people interested in what you have to say. Try using it when you want to sound a bit more serious or formal.

The park is visited chiefly by local families.
We succeeded chiefly because we worked very hard.
The birds fly south chiefly for the winter.
This tool is used chiefly for cutting wood.
She is known chiefly for her beautiful paintings.
The meeting was held chiefly to discuss money.

Generally

Generally is a word that we use when things happen most of the time. It is perfect for talking about habits or things that are usually true about the world. You probably hear this word a lot in school or at work because it is so common. It feels very honest and balanced. If you want to talk about how things usually go, this is the perfect word to pick for your next big writing project.

Generally, I wake up at seven every morning.
The weather here is generally very hot.
People generally like to eat sweet desserts.
I generally walk to the park on Sundays.
Cats are generally very clean and quiet animals.
We generally have a big party for birthdays.

Largely

When you say largely, you are telling people that a big part of something is a certain way. It is a strong word that shows you are confident about what you are saying. It helps to paint a clear picture in the mind of the reader. Use this word when you want to explain that a situation was caused by one big thing. It makes your sentences feel more solid and very well thought out for others.

The party was largely a big surprise for him.
Our success was largely due to your help.
The village is largely made of old stone.
His problems were largely caused by his bad luck.
The room was largely filled with colorful balloons.
My summer was largely spent at the beach.

Usually

Usually is one of the easiest words to use when you want to replace mostly. It describes things that are a normal part of your life. Everyone knows what this word means, so it is a very safe choice. It sounds very conversational and warm. You can use it to talk about your daily routines or what you like to do for fun. It is a very helpful word to have in your back pocket always.

I usually drink a cup of hot tea.
We usually go to the beach in July.
He usually wears a blue hat to school.
She usually calls her mother on every Friday.
They usually eat dinner at six o clock.
It usually rains a lot during the spring.

Primarily

This is a great word to use when you want to talk about the main purpose of something. It is a bit longer, but it is still very simple to understand. It shows that you know exactly what the most important thing is. I like using this word when I am explaining how a machine works or why a rule exists. It adds a nice touch of authority to your writing without being too difficult or confusing.

This room is primarily used for big meetings.
The course is primarily for new young students.
We focus primarily on helping people in need.
The bus is primarily used by office workers.
This song is primarily played on the radio.
My goal is primarily to learn something new.

Principally

Principally is another way to say that something is the main thing. It is very similar to primarily, but it gives you another option so you do not repeat yourself. Using different words makes your blog posts much more fun to read. It tells the reader that you are focusing on the most important detail. This word works best when you are giving a list of reasons and want to start with the biggest one on your mind.

The team won principally because of their coach.
He eats vegetables principally to stay very strong.
The town grew principally because of the new mine.
We travel principally to see different beautiful places.
She writes stories principally for her young children.
The engine runs principally on clean electric power.

Mostly Always

Sometimes you want to be very clear that something happens almost every single time. Using two simple words together can be very powerful. It sounds very natural when you are talking to a friend. It is a very easy way to show that a habit is very strong. You can use this when you are being a bit more casual in your speech. It helps people understand exactly how often something happens in your busy life.

I am mostly always on time for work.
She is mostly always happy to help us.
The store is mostly always open on Mondays.
We are mostly always tired after the gym.
He is mostly always reading a new book.
They are mostly always late for the game.

On the Whole

This is a lovely phrase that looks at the big picture. Instead of looking at small details, you are talking about everything together. It is a very kind and thoughtful way to summarize a situation. People use this a lot when they are giving a review of a book or a meal. It shows that you have thought about everything and decided that the overall result is positive or true for the most part.

On the whole, I think you did great.
The trip was very fun on the whole.
On the whole, the plan worked very well.
The movie was quite scary on the whole.
On the whole, I am happy with results.
The dinner was very tasty on the whole.

In the Main

This is an older phrase but it is still very simple and clear. It means the same thing as mostly, but it sounds a little more unique. It is a good way to stand out when you are writing. It tells the reader that the core of what you are saying is true. You can use it in a sentence to show that the most important parts of a plan or a story are already finished or correct.

The work is, in the main, quite finished.
In the main, the weather was very nice.
Our goals are, in the main, the same.
The story is, in the main, very true.
In the main, people were very kind today.
The houses are, in the main, built well.

Predominantly

This word is a bit of a mouthful, but it just means that something is the most common thing you see. If you look at a field of red flowers with a few blue ones, you could say it is predominantly red. It is a very descriptive word that helps people see what you see. Use it when you are talking about colors, types of people, or different kinds of weather in a specific place you visited.

The forest is predominantly made of pine trees.
The crowd was predominantly made of young fans.
The clouds are predominantly white and very fluffy.
His clothes are predominantly black and very dark.
The music was predominantly loud and very fast.
The area is predominantly used for growing corn.

All in All

This is one of my favorite ways to wrap up a thought. It is very friendly and makes the reader feel like they are part of a conversation. It means that when you add everything up, this is the result. It is perfect for the end of a paragraph or a story. It simplifies things and gives a final answer to a question. Use it when you want to show that the total experience was good.

All in all, it was a great day.
All in all, the party was a success.
She did a good job all in all.
All in all, we saved a lot money.
It was a hard test all in all.
All in all, I love my new home.

By and Large

This is another classic phrase that means mostly or generally. It is very common in English and sounds very natural. It is a bit like saying “everything considered.” It is a great way to talk about a general trend without getting bogged down in tiny details. I like to use this when I am talking about how a new system is working or how a large group of people feels about a big change.

By and large, the students followed the rules.
The food here is by and large excellent.
By and large, I prefer to stay home.
The project was by and large very easy.
People are by and large friendly in this town.
By and large, the weather is very calm.

Overwhelmingly

Use this word when you want to say that almost everyone or everything is a certain way. It is a very strong word. If ninety percent of people agree on something, they agree overwhelmingly. It shows that there is a very big lead or a very clear winner. It is an exciting word that adds a lot of energy to your writing. Use it when you want to emphasize that something is very, very common or popular.

The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of change.
The response to the news was overwhelmingly positive.
The fans were overwhelmingly excited for the show.
The evidence was overwhelmingly against the old theory.
The kids were overwhelmingly happy with the gifts.
The team was overwhelmingly better than the others.

Essentially

Essentially is a word you use when you want to get to the heart of the matter. It means that at its core, something is a certain way. It is a very smart word that helps you explain complex things in a very simple way. When you use this word, you are telling the reader what the most important part is. It is great for giving definitions or explaining the main idea of a very long and difficult book.

The book is essentially a guide for beginners.
It is essentially a very simple cooking tool.
We are essentially done with the hard work.
The plan is essentially to save more money.
They are essentially saying the same thing now.
This is essentially the best way to win.

Effectively

You can use effectively when you want to say that although something might not be officially true, it works that way in real life. It is a very useful word for describing how things actually happen. It shows that you are looking at the results rather than just the rules. It is a very practical word that people who work in business or science love to use. It makes your writing sound very grounded and very realistic.

He is effectively the leader of the group.
The law effectively stopped all the noisy parties.
We have effectively finished the entire big project.
The silence effectively ended the long heated argument.
The discount effectively made the shoes very cheap.
This change effectively improves our daily speed today.

Substantially

Substantially is a word that means a whole lot. It is a step up from mostly because it shows that a very large amount is involved. Use this when you want to show that a big change has happened. It is a very impressive word that still feels easy to understand. It is perfect for talking about growth, improvements, or big differences between two things. It makes your points feel very important and very significant to others.

The house is substantially bigger than the last.
Our sales have grown substantially this year alone.
The rules have changed substantially since last month.
He is substantially faster than he was before.
The price is substantially lower during the sale.
The work is substantially complete for the week.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list helps you find many other ways to say mostly in your daily life. Using different words makes your talking and writing much more interesting for everyone. It is fun to try new ways to share your ideas with your friends. Remember that you do not need big words to sound smart. Simple words used well are the best. Keep practicing these easy tips and you will surely become a much better communicator very soon.