almost entirely different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost entirely different" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has significant differences, but not completely so. Example: "The two designs are almost entirely different, showcasing unique styles and features."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Fortunately, the repertory will be almost entirely different.

The New York Times - Arts

The key, of course, is that the 27 apps can be almost entirely different, depending who you ask.

The Guardian - Tech

Their models will share engines, platforms and much else besides under the skin, but will look almost entirely different.

The Economist

The British catalogue contains 1.2m books; the German, 750,000 almost entirely different ones.Bertelsmann brings some useful strengths to BOL.

The Economist

Too often, historians are inclined to view Russia as sui generis, appended to Europe but almost entirely different in its society and institutions.

The New York Times - Books

The group of students taking the state test in May was almost entirely different from the group we had in September.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Unfortunately, our national discourse is focused almost entirely on different questions.

Huffington Post

"It's almost an entirely different entity".

The New York Times

"You look at where we were then and where we are now, and we're almost an entirely different company," Mr. Frankel said.

The New York Times

This was almost an entirely different team from the one he took to last year's Final Four, writes Luke Winn on SI.com, but it is still using doubts about its worthiness as a motivating factor, Ted Miller writes on ESPN.com, and is still drawing from the same bag of magic dust as last year, writes Tim Pearrell in The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The New York Times

MR: Here in the States, you're known for big hits like "Silhouette," "Songbird," and "Don't Make Me Wait For Love," but abroad, don't you have almost an entirely different kind of following?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost entirely different" to convey a strong contrast without implying complete opposition. It's suitable when there are subtle shared elements, but the overall characteristics diverge significantly.

Common error

Avoid using "almost entirely different" when the items being compared share substantial similarities. If there's significant overlap, consider using phrases like "somewhat different" or "slightly altered" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost entirely different" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically used to describe nouns. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase indicates a strong degree of dissimilarity, but not absolute opposition, offering a nuanced comparison.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost entirely different" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival modifier that highlights substantial contrasts while acknowledging minor similarities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions to emphasize distinctions and is appropriate for various registers, particularly in news, science, and general-interest writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that there is indeed a significant divergence between the items being compared, avoiding overstatement. Alternatives like "largely dissimilar" or "mostly distinct" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings. Avoiding common errors, like using the phrase when significant overlap exists, will improve the clarity and precision of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely dissimilar

Replaces "almost entirely" with "largely" to soften the difference slightly.

mostly distinct

Focuses on the distinct qualities while retaining the sense of near-completeness.

substantially contrasting

Emphasizes the contrast between the items being compared.

significantly divergent

Highlights the divergence or deviation between two things.

markedly disparate

Stresses the distinct and unequal nature of the items.

considerably altered

Focuses on the degree to which something has been changed from its original state.

virtually unalike

Uses "virtually" to indicate a close-to-complete dissimilarity.

nearly opposite

Implies that the items being compared are close to being opposites.

radically transformed

Emphasizes the degree and scope of the transformation.

fundamentally changed

Focuses on a core or essential alteration.

FAQs

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

Use "almost entirely different" to describe two or more things that share a few similarities but are mostly unalike. For example, "The two approaches to solving the problem were "almost entirely different", reflecting contrasting philosophies".

What can I say instead of "almost entirely different"?

You can use alternatives like "largely dissimilar", "mostly distinct", or "substantially contrasting" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "almost entirely different" or "completely different"?

"Almost entirely different" implies a high degree of dissimilarity with some minimal overlap, while "completely different" suggests no similarities whatsoever. The choice depends on the actual relationship between the items being compared.

What's the difference between "almost entirely different" and "somewhat different"?

"Almost entirely different" suggests a significant divergence, while "somewhat different" implies a minor distinction. Use ""almost entirely different"" when the dissimilarities are substantial and "somewhat different" when the differences are slight.