all but merely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but merely" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or redundant.
It can be used to emphasize that something is almost entirely or completely true, but the combination of "all but" and "merely" may create confusion. Example: "The project was all but merely a formality, as everyone had already agreed on the outcome."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Without any treatment at all, but merely resting, they began gradually to feel better.

The New Yorker

Magnanti said decriminalisation was not a "free for all" but merely a first step.

The Guardian

(Of course, those on the left think that what those on the right call reform is not reform at all but merely ruination).

The New Yorker

The doctors performed surgery to determine the extent of the tear, and the surgery revealed that it was not torn at all, but merely strained.

The New York Times - Sports

But way, perhaps not an ending after all but merely A new sort of beginning, this destiny I now see clearly.

The New York Times

The receipts are enormous, salaries are so high as to be suspect, and there is rumor that some teams exist not to win games at all but merely to sell players at a profit.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Merely owning a little less of the markets because they were priced for lower long-term returns would have gone far to defend investors in this market you don't even need to go "all in" or "all out" but merely adjustments at the margin to better manage the risk, because markets can always continue to go up more.

Forbes

But all this was merely a run-up to the main event.

The New York Times - Books

But all those details merely serve as the backdrop for the choreography and the dancing.

The New York Times - Arts

Inequality of wealth in Europe and US is broadly twice the inequality of income – the top 10% have between 60% and 70% of all wealth but merely 25%to35%5% of all income.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then there are all the merely "normal" (but still huge) SUVs.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrases like "almost just" or "practically only" if "all but merely" sounds too redundant or awkward in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "all but merely" in sentences where a simpler construction would suffice. For example, instead of saying "The task was all but merely completed", simply state "The task was almost completed" or "The task was practically complete".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but merely" functions as a qualifier or intensifier, emphasizing that something is close to being in one state but is, in reality, in a slightly different state. It serves to highlight a subtle but important distinction. Ludwig AI identifies its acceptable usage, and examples show it used to add nuance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all but merely" is a phrase used to indicate that something is close to being one thing but is, in fact, slightly different. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI flags that it can sometimes sound redundant, and simpler alternatives may be preferable. It's most commonly found in news and media, and science, where it serves to clarify subtle distinctions and prevent misinterpretations. When using "all but merely", ensure the context warrants its use to avoid unnecessary wordiness. Consider alternatives like "almost just" or "practically only" for a more concise expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost just

Replaces "all but" with "almost", simplifying the degree of exception.

practically only

Emphasizes the limited nature of what remains after the exception.

virtually just

Similar to "practically only", highlighting the functional equivalence.

essentially only

Focuses on the core or fundamental aspect that remains.

tantamount to only

Indicates the situation is equivalent in effect or value.

as good as just

Emphasizes how close something is to being in a specific state.

little more than

Emphasizes the limited or insignificant nature of something.

scarcely more than

Similar to "little more than", highlighting scarcity.

barely only

Stresses the narrow margin or small degree.

no more than

Minimizes the importance or extent of something.

FAQs

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

Use "all but merely" to emphasize a slight but significant difference between two seemingly similar states. For example, "The presentation was "all but merely" a formality, as the decision had already been made".

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

Alternatives include "almost just", "practically only", or "essentially only", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "all but merely" always the best choice, or are there situations where it's less suitable?

While grammatically correct, "all but merely" can sometimes sound redundant. Simpler phrases like "almost just" might be more effective in straightforward contexts.

What's the difference between "all but merely" and "almost completely"?

"All but merely" emphasizes a contrast between appearance and reality, whereas "almost completely" focuses more on the degree of completion or similarity.