What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mainly
Example
I mainly eat vegetables for dinner. [mainly: adverb]
Example
The book mainly focuses on the protagonist's journey. [mainly: adverb]
mostly
Example
I mostly listen to classical music. [mostly: adverb]
Example
The event was mostly attended by young people. [mostly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mostly is more commonly used than mainly in everyday language. Mostly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mainly is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mainly and mostly?
Both mainly and mostly are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
