What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
primarily
Example
The company's primarily focus is on sustainability. [primarily: adverb]
Example
The book primarily discusses the history of the region. [primarily: adverb]
mostly
Example
I mostly eat vegetarian food. [mostly: adverb]
Example
The team is mostly made up of young players. [mostly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mostly is more commonly used than primarily in everyday language. Mostly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while primarily is less common and typically used in more formal or academic settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between primarily and mostly?
Primarily is generally considered more formal than mostly. While mostly can be used in both formal and informal contexts, primarily is more commonly used in academic or technical writing.
