“Most” vs. “Mostly”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “most” and “mostly”

  • "Most" is used to describe a quantity or amount, while "mostly" is used to describe the frequency or occurrence of something.
  • "Most" implies that there is no equal or greater amount, while "mostly" implies that there may be exceptions to the statement being made.
  • "Most" can be used as a determiner, pronoun, or adverb, while "mostly" is always an adverb.
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What is the definition of “most” and “mostly”?

Most
  • "Most" is used to indicate the greatest quantity or highest percentage of something.
  • It implies that there is no greater amount or number than what is being referred to.
  • It can also be used to describe something as being the greatest in terms of importance or significance within a group.
Mostly
  • "Mostly" is an adverb used to indicate that something occurs or exists to a great extent or in the majority of instances.
  • It implies that there may be exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, the statement being made is true.
  • It can also be used to describe an action or behavior that is done frequently or habitually.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Most” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Most
13,710,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Most people prefer chocolate ice cream to vanilla.
  2. The most important thing in life is to be kind.
  3. He is most likely to arrive late for the meeting.
Mostly
1,840,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I mostly enjoy spending my time outdoors.
  2. She mostly wears casual clothes on weekends.
  3. The movie is mostly in French with English subtitles.
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