mostly

"Mostly" tells us that something is true in most cases, but not always. Think of it like a pie chart—"mostly" means one slice takes up the biggest portion, but there are still smaller slices representing exceptions. If you say "It's mostly sunny," it means the sun is shining for the majority of the day, even if there might be a few clouds here and there. It's a useful word when you want to be accurate without being absolute. You might say "The audience was mostly quiet," meaning most people were silent, but perhaps someone coughed or whispered.

"Mostly" is an adverb that shows that the greater part of something is true, but not all of it. It points to a general pattern with some exceptions. It's less definite than "always" or "completely," so it adds nuance and leaves room for a few differences.

You might use "mostly" to describe groups or amounts: "The class was mostly girls." You can also use it to describe someone's usual character: "He is mostly kind, but he can be grumpy sometimes." It's also helpful when talking about habits or routines: "I mostly drink coffee in the morning."

"Mostly" isn't just about percentages; it can also show a main reason. For example, "I enjoyed the movie mostly because of the acting" means that even if other parts were not perfect, the acting was the biggest reason you liked it.

It's important to remember that "mostly" doesn't mean only. It leaves room for other possibilities. Saying "The room was mostly clean" suggests that most of it was clean, but a few parts still needed attention. So when you want to express a general truth with a little wiggle room, "mostly" is a very useful choice.