all but was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but was" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is almost or nearly the case, except for one specific aspect. Example: "The project was all but finished, with just a few minor details left to address."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

He got an accountancy job and gave it his all, but was not enjoying it.

The Times

DP6 (LED) was not significant in BCP ALL, but was significant in non-BCP leukaemia (OR, CI: 1.8, 1.2 2.7; P=0.007).

British Journal of Cancer

Furthermore, DP6, which also has E at position 69 was not associated with BCP ALL, but was associated with non-BCP leukaemia.

British Journal of Cancer

Actually, it wasn't "written" at all but was improvised.

The New Yorker

"It turned out to be not prescient at all, but was dead wrong," Dr. Botchan said.

The New York Times - Health

Mrs Thatcher had "an air of resignation about it all, but was indulgent towards Mark", he added.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Mr. Russert liked to seem sheepishly above-it-all, but was also as acutely status-conscious, befitting the local water.

The New York Times

The Oxford academic and spelling blogger, whose latest book is "Does Spelling Matter?", said he was not proposing a spelling free-for-all but was inviting people to accept that spellings change.

The New York Times

In between, there was what felt like confirmation of a title race, and a new rivalry at the division's summit, in the attritional 0-0 slugfest between Liverpool and Manchester City – a fixture that in the recent past has been an artist's impression of football as orgiastic free-for-all but was this time neutered almost completely by overbearing mutual respect.

Vice

Here, it has all but been erased.

The New York Times

But all this was subterfuge.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but was" to convey a situation that came very close to happening or being true, but ultimately did not fully materialize. It's best suited for scenarios where the difference is subtle yet significant.

Common error

Avoid using "all but was" when you mean something definitively is. The phrase implies a condition that almost existed, not one that actually exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but was" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a situation or condition was very close to being a certain way in the past, although it ultimately wasn't. Ludwig confirms that this expression is indeed correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all but was" is a useful phrase for expressing situations that nearly came to fruition in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. Its usage is common across news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. Remember to use it when you want to convey that something almost happened, but didn't quite make it, and be aware of its neutral register to ensure it fits your overall tone. The phrase is close in meaning to "almost was" or "virtually was".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost was

Directly indicates a close approximation to being something.

nearly was

Similar to 'almost,' stressing the narrow margin.

practically was

Emphasizes the near reality of a situation.

virtually was

Highlights that something is true in effect, if not in fact.

essentially was

Suggests the core or fundamental nature was in a certain state.

in effect was

Focuses on the actual result or consequence.

tantamount to being

Indicates equivalence in effect or value.

as good as being

Implies a state that, for all practical purposes, is equivalent to another.

for all intents and purposes was

Highlights that something is considered a certain way, regardless of technicalities.

to all appearances was

Highlights how something seemed based on available evidence.

FAQs

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

Use "all but was" to indicate something nearly happened or was in a certain state. For example, "The game was "all but won" until the last minute".

What's a good alternative to "all but was"?

Alternatives include "almost was", "practically was", or "virtually was". Choose the one that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "everything all but was ruined"?

The phrasing "everything all but was ruined" is awkward. A better phrasing might be "everything "was almost ruined"" or "everything "was nearly ruined"".

What's the difference between "all but was" and "all but is"?

"All but was" refers to a past state that nearly occurred, while "all but is" refers to a present state that is close to being true. For example, "The project "all but was completed" last week" (past) vs. "The project "all but is complete" now" (present).