all but secured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but secured" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is almost certain or guaranteed, but not completely so. Example: "The funding for the project is all but secured, pending final approval from the board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Grecians all but secured the points when Cummins followed up after Carson failed to deal with Arron Davies' shot.

BBC

Earlier this year she appeared to have all but secured the nomination.

The Economist

Ferguson and Heynckes have all but secured the titles in the English and German leagues.

The New York Times - Sports

Even then, Wigan's goal difference is superior by 21 so their title is all but secured.

The Guardian - Sport

Port Vale all but secured promotion to League One thanks to their superior goal difference.

The Guardian - Sport

Now that Santorum's out of the race, Romney has all but secured the nomination.

The Guardian - Opinion

Allan Houston's $100 million deal all but secured his staying in Sacramento, Webber said recently.

The New York Times - Sports

This time, they are playing well when it matters most, and their playoff fate is all but secured.

The New York Times - Sports

Saracens leave on Monday for a training week in Florida, having all but secured a play-off place.

The Guardian - Sport

By this time, the Americans had defeated the British at Yorktown, and independence was all but secured.

The Washington Post

Such has been the success of the shirt that the site's future has been all but secured for another year.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance readability and prevent monotony, consider incorporating synonyms like "virtually guaranteed" or "practically assured" when you have the opportunity to rephrase.

Common error

Avoid using "all but secured" when the outcome is genuinely uncertain or dependent on significant future events. It implies a level of assurance that may be misleading if substantial risks remain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but secured" functions as a qualifier, suggesting that an outcome is highly probable but not yet definitively certain. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase precedes nouns indicating achievements, positions, or victories.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all but secured" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to indicate a high degree of certainty about an outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent appearance in various contexts, particularly in news, formal business, and academic writing. While it conveys near-certainty, it's important to use it cautiously when the outcome is still subject to significant risks. Alternatives like "virtually guaranteed" or "practically assured" can provide similar nuances. Remember that, although widely accepted, using it in situations where uncertainty is high can be misleading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all but guaranteed

A direct synonym, swapping 'secured' with 'guaranteed'.

virtually guaranteed

Replaces "all but" with "virtually", emphasizing the near certainty of the outcome.

nearly guaranteed

Similar to "virtually guaranteed" but uses "nearly" to convey the closeness to certainty.

practically assured

Substitutes "all but" with "practically", suggesting a high level of confidence in the result.

almost certain

Replaces the entire phrase with a more straightforward expression of high probability.

effectively secured

Focuses on the effectiveness of the securing action, implying a high degree of success.

as good as secured

An informal way of saying that something is almost certainly secured.

in effect secured

Highlights that the securing has happened in effect, even if not formally.

tantamount to securing

Indicates that the current state is equivalent in effect to having secured something.

on the verge of securing

Indicates that something is very close to being secured.

FAQs

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

You can use "all but secured" to indicate that something is almost certain to happen. For instance, "With this victory, they have "virtually guaranteed" their place in the finals".

What are some alternatives to "all but secured"?

Alternatives include phrases such as ""virtually guaranteed"", "practically assured", or "almost certain", each conveying a similar sense of near certainty.

Is it correct to say "all but secured"?

Yes, "all but secured" is a correct and commonly used phrase in English to express that something is highly likely to happen or be achieved.

What's the nuance difference between "all but secured" and ""virtually guaranteed""?

"All but secured" and ""virtually guaranteed"" are very similar, but "all but secured" might imply a slightly stronger emphasis on the actions taken to achieve something, while ""virtually guaranteed"" focuses more on the high probability of the outcome, irrespective of the actions.