I virtually never

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I virtually never" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something almost never happens, indicating a very low frequency. Example: "I virtually never eat fast food because I prefer home-cooked meals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I'd always liked the look of free-flowing, hippyish sort of clothing, and I had virtually never bought any clothing that fit that description.

Huffington Post

But when with much excitement I gave the story to the editor-in-chief, my dear husband Ray, with whom I rarely, virtually never disagreed on literary or editorial matters, Ray said that it was overlong and digressive; he did not want to publish it.

The New Yorker

"But I've virtually never seen a case of that just because of nangs.

Vice

Ms. Stewart virtually never stopped working.

The New York Times

It virtually never happened.

The Guardian - Books

(Girls virtually never get it).

The New Yorker

He virtually never makes mistakes.

The New York Times - Science

The government virtually never prosecutes steroid users.

The New York Times - Sports

Virtually never, though, does dementia come up.

The New York Times

You're virtually never alone on the High Line".

The New York Times

Interviewers get guidelines but training is virtually never required.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I virtually never" to emphasize a near-zero occurrence of an event or action, creating a strong impression of infrequency. This phrasing works well when contrasting typical expectations or behaviors.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually never" in very casual conversations, as it may sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "hardly ever" or "almost never" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I virtually never" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the frequency with which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses that something almost never happens.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I virtually never" is a grammatically sound construction used to express a very low frequency of occurrence. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and suitable for various written contexts, especially news and media. While it can be slightly formal, it effectively emphasizes the rareness of an action or event. Alternatives like "I hardly ever" or "I almost never" offer similar meanings with slight nuances. While generally neutral, it's best to avoid overusing it in overly casual settings to maintain a natural tone. The phrase's effectiveness lies in its ability to convey a strong sense of infrequency, which can be useful for highlighting contrasts or exceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I hardly ever

Replaces "virtually" with "hardly", softening the sense of infrequency slightly.

I almost never

Uses "almost" to convey a near-zero frequency, very similar to "virtually never".

I rarely ever

Emphasizes the rareness with the addition of "ever".

I seldom ever

Uses "seldom" which also implies infrequency, akin to "rarely".

I practically never

Uses "practically" as a synonym for "virtually", maintaining a similar strength of meaning.

I have almost never

Rephrases using "have" to slightly alter the sentence structure but retain similar meaning.

I scarcely ever

Uses "scarcely" to indicate something happens only just or almost not at all.

I don't think I ever

Suggests that the speaker has a hard time remembering something happening.

I can't recall ever

Indicates a lack of memory of the event happening, implying rarity.

It's uncommon for me to

Shifts the focus to the uncommon nature of the action rather than direct infrequency by the speaker.

FAQs

How can I use "I virtually never" in a sentence?

Use "I virtually never" to express that you almost never do something. For example, "I virtually never eat fast food" indicates you rarely consume fast food.

What can I say instead of "I virtually never"?

You can use alternatives like "I hardly ever", "I almost never", or "I rarely ever" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I virtually never" or "I never virtually"?

"I virtually never" is the correct and more common phrasing. "I never virtually" is grammatically awkward and not typically used.

What's the difference between "I virtually never" and "I almost never"?

Both phrases are very similar, but "I virtually never" might suggest a slightly stronger degree of infrequency than "I almost never". The difference is subtle and often negligible.