all but does

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but does" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words that does not convey a clear meaning. An example could be: "He all but does his homework every night, but he never submits it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Even with all of my education and the sharing of my passion and knowledge with them, my own family still recently asked me "is it better to buy organic or non-GMO?" "To which I quickly blurted out "organic trumps all!" But does it?

Huffington Post

It's great that they trust Wren to make sense of it all, but does the government really need to make things so complicated?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Like the characters of Antonioni's earlier Italian hits, Hemmings has it all but does not seem to be enjoying any of it.

The Guardian - Film

The talk of the toy industry is Smart Alex, who isn't a bear at all but does a lot of the things interactive teddy bears will eventually do.

The New York Times - Magazine

You fully expect the virtuous Ned, who is too good (and good-looking) to be true, to exclaim: "Don't you see? You're throwing away happiness with both hands!," and he all but does.

The New York Times

We are captivated by something that may appear fleetingly, if at all, but doesn't last.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

We bounced them all". But did Gleneagles really deliver?

The Guardian

The guidelines list options for R/R Ph B-precursor ALL, but do not recommend any one treatment over another.

BMC Cancer

An inquiry process is not a cure-all but does allow society to look in the mirror and reflect.

The Guardian

Daisy decides to tell them all everything, but doesn't.

The New Yorker

Roger Lane, said the campaign was all but done.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey near completion or a high likelihood of an action, substitute "all but does" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "almost does" or "practically does".

Common error

Relying on "all but does" may obscure your intended meaning. Ensure clarity by opting for a more precise phrase like "almost does" or "nearly does", which aligns with standard English grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but does" attempts to convey that an action is near completion or very likely to happen. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect. The intended function is better served by alternatives like "almost does".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "all but does" appears in various sources including news, science, and wiki contexts, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that alternatives like "almost does" or "practically does" are more appropriate. Although the phrase is relatively common, it's best to avoid it in favor of more precise and grammatically sound options to ensure clarity and correctness in writing. Stick to recognized alternatives to convey the intended meaning of near completion or high likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost does

Emphasizes the action is very close to happening or being completed. Less emphatic.

practically does

Indicates the action is done in effect, though maybe not in strict reality.

virtually does

Similar to 'practically', but with a stronger sense that it's only lacking a technicality.

nearly does

Suggests the action is very close to being completed, focusing on the small distance remaining.

tantamount to doing

Highlights that the consequences of not doing are equivalent.

as good as does

Indicates the effect is the same as if the action were actually completed.

might as well do

Suggests the lack of substantial difference between doing and not doing.

to all intents and purposes does

A more formal way of saying 'practically' or 'virtually'.

for all practical purposes does

States that in any realistic scenario, the action might as well be done.

effectively does

Emphasizes that the end result is the same as if the action were actually completed.

FAQs

What does "all but" mean?

The phrase "all but" typically means "almost" or "nearly". For example, "the project is "all but done"" means the project is almost finished.

What can I say instead of "all but does"?

You can use alternatives like "almost does", "practically does", or "virtually does" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "all but done"?

Yes, ""all but done"" is a common and accepted idiom meaning "almost finished". However, "all but does" is not grammatically correct.

How can I use "almost" correctly in a sentence?

Use "almost" followed by the verb. For instance, instead of "all but does", say "he almost does his homework every night".