Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
almost completely only
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "almost completely only" is not standard in written English and may lead to confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize that something is nearly entirely exclusive, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "The results were almost completely only due to the new policy changes."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
Wiki
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
Production of wood charcoal in the Mediterranean countries started over two millennia ago and vanished almost completely only in the last century.
Science
It requires practice to find the position that allows you to relax your whole torso almost completely, only slight effort being used to maintain your balance.
Wiki
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
John Gruber noted that "Amazon's media ecosystem is almost completely U.S. only and a little bit in the U.K. whereas Apple has deals in around 100 countries".
News & Media
Second, we presented a case where a previously large river with a very large and diverse fish population dried out almost completely leaving only two lakes of different size.
In the case of traditional VLBI sessions, the distances between the stations are significantly larger and the spatial correlations disappear almost completely and only temporal correlations between successive observations are present.
Science
"She's recovered almost completely and only takes one anti-depressant.
News & Media
At that time, the route was almost completely gravel; only the concurrency with US-54 was paved.
Wiki
Seven of 12 Construct I clones lost fluorescence almost completely, while only three of 12 Construct II clones lost fluorescence.
Science
Most of the mitochondrial genomes of animals, ascomycete fungi, and apicomplexa were covered almost completely, with only a few exceptions.
Science
None of the five children with progressive arteriopathy had a good outcome after a median follow-up period of 3 years, compared with 30 of the 74 patients with TCA (41%) who had recovered completely or almost completely with only mild deficits (P = 0.15).
Science
Recovery values were normalized to the number of rod forming cells observed at t= 0. After 24 h recovery, the wild-type cell line recovered almost completely with only 2% of rods persisting, whereas mutant cells still had a 36% persistence rate (Fig. 2E).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using "almost completely only" in formal writing; opt for clearer and more concise alternatives such as "almost exclusively" or "nearly entirely" to improve readability.
Common error
Avoid using multiple adverbs that convey similar meanings. Saying "almost completely only" is often redundant; choosing just one, like "almost exclusively", is more effective and clearer.
Source & Trust
78%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "almost completely only" functions as an intensifier aiming to express near exclusivity or near total completion. However, its usage is not grammatically sound and it is considered to be grammatically awkward by Ludwig AI.
Frequent in
Science
35%
News & Media
33%
Wiki
32%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "almost completely only" is an attempt to express near exclusivity, but Ludwig AI suggests it's grammatically awkward and redundant. It appears in a mix of contexts including science, news and media and wiki, however, clearer alternatives like "almost exclusively" or "nearly entirely" are preferable for better clarity and precision in writing. While the phrase isn't entirely absent, it is still recommended to avoid it.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
almost entirely only
Replaces "completely" with "entirely", offering a slightly different nuance but retaining the core meaning of near exclusivity.
nearly exclusively
Substitutes "almost completely only" with a more concise and common expression, focusing on exclusivity.
almost solely
Replaces "completely only" with "solely", emphasizing that something is done by one person or cause alone.
primarily only
Emphasizes the primary aspect with exceptions, similar to the original phrase's intent.
largely exclusively
Indicates that something is mostly exclusive but allows for minor exceptions.
almost without exception
Highlights the lack of exceptions, suggesting a near-total adherence to a rule or condition.
virtually exclusively
Implies a high degree of exclusivity, with any exceptions being negligible.
practically only
Indicates that something is the case in almost all practical situations, even if not technically absolute.
nearly uniquely
Emphasizes the uniqueness of something, with few if any comparable instances.
almost strictly
Highlights a strict adherence to a condition or rule, with minimal deviation.
FAQs
Is "almost completely only" grammatically correct?
The phrase "almost completely only" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use alternatives like "almost exclusively" or "nearly entirely" for improved clarity.
What does "almost completely only" mean?
The phrase aims to convey that something is near exclusive, with very few exceptions. However, its construction is redundant, making alternatives like "almost solely" or "virtually exclusively" clearer.
How can I rephrase a sentence using "almost completely only" to sound more professional?
To sound more professional, replace "almost completely only" with "primarily only", "largely exclusively" or "almost without exception" depending on the specific context.
What are some alternatives to "almost completely only" in academic writing?
In academic writing, consider using "nearly exclusively" or "almost entirely only" to maintain precision and clarity. Avoid ambiguous phrasing.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
78%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested