all but no

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but no" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express a contradiction or a negation, but it lacks clarity and coherence. Example: "In the end, the project was all but no progress made."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Many mappings are syntactically possible, after all, but no more than one proposition-proposition mapping should be successful.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

Nearly 30% are no longer in use at all, but no one has bothered to remove them.

The Economist

Moreover, with no diplomatic ties and all but no trade with Iran, there is little more the U.S. could do right now to pressure the regime.

Stanford University

"They have no use for it at all but no doubt sooner or later they will be brought to see the error of their nonconformity".

The Guardian - Arts

UNDER AGE 11 -- There's baseball and all, but no one should mistake this as a film even remotely suitable for young children.

The New York Times

This problem will solve itself when technology and economics finally conspire to topple the existing higher-ed business model, in favor of schooling that is more freely accessible to all but no less excellent.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

With the depressed global economy, it appears that countries are playing a prisoner's dilemma game, with a potential better outcome for all, but no-one willing to act alone.

Globalization and Health

As adults, we're supposed to be above all that, but no.

HuffPost

It may not devolve into a free-for-all, but no one knows what to expect.

The New York Times - Sports

The lads -- led by handsome young Alistair Toovey -- give their all, but to no avail.

Huffington Post

All great training, but no longer enough.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, avoid double negatives like "all but no". Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "almost no" or "virtually none" to ensure your intended meaning is accurately conveyed.

Common error

The phrase "all but no" can easily confuse readers because it uses a construction that sounds like a double negative. To avoid this, choose a single, direct negative phrase like "almost no" to express the intended meaning more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but no" attempts to function as a determiner phrase indicating a near absence or negation. However, due to its confusing structure, it often fails to convey its intended meaning effectively. As Ludwig AI indicates, clarity suffers due to its structure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all but no" is a tricky construction that aims to express near absence, but often falls short due to its confusing structure. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, and it's best to opt for clearer alternatives like "almost no" or "virtually none". While it appears in some sources, including news and scientific publications, its ambiguous nature makes it less suitable for formal writing. When clarity is paramount, direct and unambiguous phrasing is always the best approach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost none

Emphasizes the scarcity or near absence of something.

virtually none

Highlights the insignificance of the amount or quantity.

practically none

Similar to 'virtually none', focusing on the practical absence.

next to nothing

Idiomatic expression for a very small amount.

hardly any

Indicates a small quantity or degree.

scarcely any

Similar to 'hardly any', suggesting rarity.

just about none

Emphasizes the near absence with a touch of informality.

essentially none

Highlights that something is functionally absent.

with few exceptions

Indicates that the statement applies almost universally.

in almost every case

Focuses on the prevalence rather than the negation.

FAQs

What does "all but no" mean?

The phrase "all but no" is grammatically questionable and often confusing. It's typically intended to mean "almost no" or "virtually none" but lacks clarity.

Is it correct to use "all but no" in writing?

No, it's generally not correct. While you might encounter it, it's better to use more precise alternatives like "almost no" or "virtually none" to avoid confusion.

What can I say instead of "all but no"?

You can use alternatives like "almost no", "virtually none", or "practically no" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "all but no" and "almost no"?

"All but no" is a less clear and less accepted way to express a near absence. "Almost no" is a more direct and grammatically sound way to convey that something is nearly nonexistent.