all but everything

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but everything" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that everything is included except for a very small part or detail. Example: "In the meeting, we discussed all but everything related to the project timeline, leaving only a few minor details to address later."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Hope might be too strong a word, after all, but everything is relative.

The Guardian

"I didn't know Jo at all, but everything that I've read about her in the past few days leads me to believe that the last thing she would want would be for us to stop being really passionate about political debate.

The Guardian

"Obviously we are living with the history of us all, but everything we do is the present".

Huffington Post

Little had lost all but everything he held, and did not have the confidence of others on Wall Street needed to obtain their backing.

Wikipedia

The storyline with the Dr. Silva and his beetles didn't hold my interest at all, but everything else in this installment was fascinating material that expanded the mythos of the series far more than I could have imagined".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Tells of a few of celebrities he has welcomed, etc. Has occasionally got tangled all up, but everything has gone well with the scrolls.

The New Yorker

"I'll hear that I lost a step and all those things, but everything I saw on film was something correctable.

The New York Times - Sports

I don't know where that motherfucker came up with all this shit, but everything in there has happened here.

The New Yorker

I know I should try and rationalise the situation, weigh up the scenario, see all the angles but everything I think or say or feel is usually panicked, wrong and senseless.

Independent

But, all in all, everything is S&M, one minute you have crystal protection power and the next, you are naked, oiled and pounded (per se).

Vice

"This has been an interesting rodeo all along, but everything just got much more energetic".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "all but everything", ensure the context clearly indicates what small part is excluded to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "all but everything on the menu".

Common error

Avoid using "all but everything" when a significant portion is actually excluded. It implies a much higher degree of completeness than alternatives like "most things".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but everything" functions as a quantifier, indicating a near-total inclusion with a minor exception. Ludwig examples demonstrate it highlighting extent or degree, consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all but everything" functions as a quantifier, indicating near-total inclusion with a minor exclusion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki contexts. While "all but everything" is acceptable, alternatives such as ""almost everything"" may provide greater clarity. Remember to specify the small exception when using "all but everything" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everything

Replaces "all but" with "almost", providing a more direct synonym for near-complete inclusion.

nearly everything

Similar to "almost everything", but emphasizes the approximation of totality.

virtually everything

Suggests that for all practical purposes, everything is included.

practically everything

Focuses on the practical reality that almost everything is included, with minor exceptions.

essentially everything

Highlights that the core aspects of everything are included, even if minor details are missing.

the vast majority

Shifts from totality to a large proportion, but retains the sense of comprehensive inclusion.

pretty much everything

Uses a colloquial tone to express near-complete inclusion.

just about everything

Similar to "pretty much everything" but with a slightly different emphasis on approximation.

the great bulk of things

Replaces the concise term "everything" with a more verbose expression, emphasizing quantity.

a good deal of everything

Indicates a substantial amount of everything, stopping short of complete inclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "all but everything" in a sentence?

Use "all but everything" to indicate that nearly everything is included or affected, with only a small exception. For example, "The storm destroyed "all but everything" in its path".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "all but everything"?

Synonymous phrases include "almost everything", "nearly everything", or "virtually everything", all conveying near-total inclusion.

Is it better to say "almost everything" or "all but everything"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but ""almost everything"" is generally more common and direct. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I NOT use "all but everything"?

Avoid using "all but everything" if the excluded portion is substantial or significant. In such cases, phrases like "most things" or "the majority of things" are more appropriate.