almost entirely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'almost entirely' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when emphasizing that something is close to, but not quite, complete or absolute. For example, "The project was almost entirely finished by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost entirely illegible.

Cornell University

Drowning is almost entirely preventable.

The New York Times

THE CROWD Almost entirely adult.

The New York Times

It's his, almost entirely.

The New Yorker

This antidote, paradoxically, is almost entirely moral.

The New Yorker

Farm vehicles were almost entirely absent.

The New York Times

It is almost entirely a theoretical exercise.

The New York Times

Both write almost entirely about men.

The Economist

Naraha is almost entirely government supported.

Independent

Its standards are almost entirely expressive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Travel was almost entirely by canoe.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost entirely" to indicate a high degree of completeness or exclusivity, but be mindful of the nuance that it is not absolutely complete. For example, "The success of the project was "almost entirely" due to the team's dedication."

Common error

Avoid using "almost entirely" when the situation is truly 100% complete or exclusive. If something is absolutely complete, use "entirely" or "completely" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost entirely" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically intensifying the degree to which something is true or complete. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a near-total extent, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

16%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost entirely" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express a near-total state of completeness or exclusivity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted in written English. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "virtually completely" or "nearly completely" exist, "almost entirely" offers a balance of formality and precision. When using this phrase, ensure that you are accurately representing the degree of completeness and avoid overstating the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually completely

Replaces "almost" with "virtually", emphasizing the near-total completeness.

nearly completely

Uses "nearly" instead of "almost", providing a slight variation in wording while maintaining the meaning.

practically entirely

Substitutes "almost" with "practically", indicating a very close approximation to being complete.

pretty much completely

This version of alternative uses informal expression pretty much, is very close to QUERY and emphasizes the near-total completeness.

largely completely

Replaces "entirely" with "completely", while keeping "largely" instead of "almost".

substantially entirely

Replaces "almost" with "substantially", indicating a significant degree of completeness.

almost exclusively

Focuses on exclusivity rather than completeness but implies that something else is only negligibly present.

for the most part

Offers a more idiomatic alternative, suggesting that something is true in most cases, similar to being almost entirely true.

to a great extent

Highlights the substantial degree to which something is true or complete, conveying a sense similar to "almost entirely".

in great measure

Similar to "to a great extent", this alternative emphasizes the high degree or proportion.

FAQs

How can I use "almost entirely" in a sentence?

Use "almost entirely" to express that something is nearly complete or exclusive, but with a slight degree of exception. For example, "The presentation was "almost entirely" based on new data."

What are some alternatives to "almost entirely"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually completely", "nearly completely", or "practically entirely" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "almost entirely" and "completely"?

Yes, "almost entirely" indicates a near-total state, while "completely" suggests a full and absolute state. Use "almost entirely" when there are minor exceptions or incomplete aspects.

When is it inappropriate to use "almost entirely"?

Avoid using "almost entirely" if the situation is truly 100% complete or exclusive. In such cases, "entirely" or "completely" would be more accurate.