all but proved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but proved" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is almost or nearly proven, but not completely or officially confirmed. Example: "The evidence presented in the trial has all but proved the defendant's innocence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mr Jonathan tried to improve farming and provide electricity to all, but proved unable to rebuild much of Nigeria's hideously decrepit infrastructure.

The Economist

It's been all but proved that a team without a franchise quarterback has next to no chance of winning meaningful games (games – plural) in January.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the PGR complained that this required it to all-but-prove its case just to get an arrest warrant, and hinted that this made it more likely that the police would behave improperly.

The Economist

But as with the long-denied and now all-but-proved allegations of Thomas Jefferson's affair with his slave Sally Hemings, there is reason to question the denials.

The New York Times - Magazine

This, the professors say, all but proves that stocks' expected return should be below what their historical return has been over the past five decades.

The New York Times

"Squrrrrr … skraaaawl … squirruh … SQUOOW!" As YouTube videos all but prove, Germans have a really hard time pronouncing "squirrel".

Huffington Post

Thomas Owen Clancy has recently all but proven that the Lebor Bretnach, the so-called "Irish Nennius", was written in Scotland, and probably at the monastery in Abernethy.

Wikipedia

So far Dernbach has played in all three games but proved expensive, Woakes made one appearance in Kochi when Tim Bresnan was injured and Meaker has yet to play a game.

The Guardian - Sport

But all this proved futile against Ryan's strong local base and to local commentators the result was never in doubt.

The Guardian

These claims did not convince all but they proved hard to dislodge.

The Guardian

I hadn't seen that at all, but it proved very useful as I worked on my revisions: whether one should try to "trade up" culturally, socially, and financially.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but proved" when you want to convey a strong likelihood or near certainty, but without stating something as an absolute fact. It's useful in situations where complete, irrefutable proof is lacking but the evidence is compelling.

Common error

Avoid using "all but proved" when the evidence is weak or circumstantial. If the evidence is questionable, phrases like "suggested" or "implied" are more appropriate to prevent overstating the level of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but proved" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the extent to which something has been demonstrated or verified. It suggests that something is nearly proven or is highly likely to be true, even if not formally or definitively established. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all but proved" is a useful tool for expressing near certainty. As Ludwig AI shows, it's grammatically sound and appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist. Use it when you want to convey a strong likelihood without absolute proof. Remember, it's stronger than suggesting something, but weaker than declaring it definitively proven. Alternatives like "virtually proven" or "practically established" can offer similar nuances. While "all but proved" isn't exceedingly common, it adds a precise shade of meaning when near certainty is what you aim to communicate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually proven

This alternative suggests the evidence is strong enough to be considered proven, even if not officially declared as such.

practically established

This indicates the concept is almost fully demonstrated and accepted.

almost certain

This alternative focuses on the high degree of likelihood or probability.

nearly confirmed

This option focuses on the confirmation aspect, suggesting it's on the verge of being official.

as good as proven

This phrase emphasizes that the situation is equivalent to being proven.

tantamount to proving

This highlights the equivalence of evidence with actual proof.

effectively demonstrated

This focuses on the effectiveness of the demonstration or evidence provided.

substantially verified

Suggests strong evidence supports the claim, even if not fully validated.

by all accounts proven

This indicates that according to available information, it is as if has already been proven.

for all intents and purposes proven

This suggests that although there may be minor exceptions, it is best to consider something proven.

FAQs

What does the phrase "all but proved" mean?

The phrase "all but proved" means that something is very likely to be true or has almost been proven, but not with absolute certainty. It indicates a high degree of probability based on available evidence.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "all but proved"?

It's appropriate when the evidence strongly suggests a conclusion, but there may be minor doubts or missing pieces of information preventing a definitive declaration. It is stronger than "suggests", but weaker than "proves".

What are some alternatives to "all but proved"?

Alternatives include "virtually proven", "practically established", "almost certain", and "nearly confirmed". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

How does "all but proved" differ from "proved"?

"Proved" indicates that something has been definitively established as true, without any remaining doubt. "All but proved" implies a very high degree of certainty, but acknowledges the possibility of unforeseen circumstances or missing information that could alter the conclusion.