all but securing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but securing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is nearly or almost certain to happen, but not completely guaranteed. Example: "The team's recent victories have all but secured their place in the playoffs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Cherries' 3-0 Championship win over Bolton on Monday left them three points and 19 goals clear of third-placed Middlesbrough with one game to play – all but securing their place among England's elite for the first time.

The Guardian - Sport

Northampton have had a successful season by anyone's standards, but Jim Mallinder says his team's achievement in reaching the Heineken Cup final and all but securing a playoff place in the Aviva Premiership will count for nothing if they do not win a trophy.

The Guardian - Sport

Rutherford is set to compete in his second Olympic tournament this summer after all but securing his place at London 2012 by jumping the qualification A-Standard in his first competitive outing of the season.

BBC

The first leg at PSV's home ground the Philips Stadion was won 3 0 by Liverpool all but securing their progression to the semi-finals.

Wikipedia

Goldwater won the California primary on June 2 with 51% of the vote, gaining the state's 86 delegates, and all but securing the nomination.

Wikipedia

The same thing happened on the penultimate stage to Puerto de Ancares where he followed Froome throughout the climb, distancing other GC contenders once again before kicking on to take the stage, all but securing the red jersey.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Blagg, from Leeds, expressed her relief after taking her first 3m individual British title, and all-but securing a place on Team England with a winning total of 334.8.

BBC

Not that England were unduly worried: Kevin Pietersen made a solid 33 runs from 40 balls to all-but-secure the win before he lobbed a Singh doosra back to the bowler.

The Guardian - Sport

Arsenal face Sunderland on Wednesday knowing a point will all-but secure third place in the Premier League.

BBC

They knew a win would all-but secure them a place in the play-offs but, bar a Fortune header against the bar, it was the hosts on top.

BBC

A win over Northampton in their penultimate game would all but secure Port Vale's return to League One.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but securing" when you want to convey a sense of near certainty but acknowledge that the outcome is not yet officially confirmed. For example, "Their strong lead in the polls is "all but securing" their victory."

Common error

Avoid using "all but securing" when the outcome is genuinely uncertain or relies on numerous external factors. Doing so can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. It's best used when the remaining possibility of failure is minimal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but securing" acts as a qualifier, modifying a verb to indicate that an action has nearly achieved its intended outcome or goal. Ludwig's examples show it used in contexts of sports, politics, and general achievement, signifying a high probability of success.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all but securing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression signifying that something is very likely to happen or be achieved. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its usage is most common in news and media, as well as Wiki sources, and its tone is generally neutral. While various alternative phrases exist, such as "virtually ensuring" and "practically guaranteeing", "all but securing" offers a concise and effective way to communicate a sense of near certainty while acknowledging a small degree of remaining uncertainty. When using this phrase, ensure that the context justifies the implied high probability, and avoid overstating the certainty of an outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually ensuring

Emphasizes the almost complete certainty of the outcome; focuses on the act of ensuring.

practically guaranteeing

Highlights the strong likelihood, approaching a guarantee; focuses on the act of guaranteeing.

almost assuring

Indicates a high degree of confidence in the result; emphasizes the act of assuring.

nearly guaranteeing

Similar to 'practically guaranteeing' but uses 'nearly' for a slightly less emphatic tone.

effectively ensuring

Focuses on the result-oriented nature, emphasizing that it is effectively ensuring the result.

tantamount to securing

Indicates equivalence or virtual equivalence to securing; a more formal tone.

as good as securing

An informal way of saying the situation is very close to being secured.

for all intents and purposes securing

A legalistic expression emphasizing that practically speaking, it is secured.

in effect securing

Highlights that the action effectively leads to the securing of something, even if not explicitly stated.

bordering on securing

Suggests that the situation is nearing the point of being secured, but may not be fully there yet.

FAQs

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

Use "all but securing" to indicate that something is very likely to happen or be achieved. For example, "The team's dominant performance is "all but securing" their spot in the finals."

What's a more formal alternative to "all but securing"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "virtually ensuring", or "practically guaranteeing". These alternatives convey a similar meaning of near certainty but may be more appropriate in academic or professional contexts.

Is "all but secure" the same as "all but securing"?

While similar, "all but secure" describes a state, while "all but securing" describes an action leading to that state. "All but secure" implies a near-certain condition, while "all but securing" means the process of making it secure is almost complete.

What phrases are similar to "all but securing"?

Synonymous phrases include "nearly guaranteeing", "almost assuring", or "effectively ensuring". These phrases express a similar level of near certainty or strong probability.