almost entirely the same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost entirely the same" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe two or more things that are very similar, with only minor differences. Example: "The two reports are almost entirely the same, differing only in a few minor details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

These top executives are almost entirely the same group of people who caused the financial crisis through arrogance and incompetence.

The New York Times

And yet the two sides of the conflict — in terms of beliefs, ideological lineage, and language — were almost entirely the same.

The New Yorker

And the message was almost entirely the same:  Since the recent crisis began, the United States has made it clear that the Egyptian government must refrain from violence, respect freedom of assembly, and move toward an inclusive political transition.

The Guardian

It's not a matter of "inspiration" in this case, it's almost entirely the same game.

Forbes

In Fig. 1, for example, the second pose is almost entirely the same as the first pose; only the shape of the mouth differs.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The individual item weightings for the Katz [ 21] method are almost entirely the same as for the CCI [ 19, 20].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Splitting stops when the cases in a subset are either entirely, or almost entirely, of the same class or the same value, or when further splitting does not improve discrimination between cases (i.e. does not substantially reduce deviance).

BMC Palliative Care

While the Group of 20 summit held in April in London escaped the country's attention almost entirely, the NATO summit held that same month in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Ger., did intrude on German introspection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And because the Oikos shooting occurred in a community that bore almost no resemblance to the rest of the country, the magnitude of the tragedy was contained almost entirely within the same small immigrant circles, many of whom fear that any talk about such terrible things will bring shame directly on them.

The New York Times - Magazine

One of the cliches about India is that it lives in several centuries at once – bullock carts, mobile phones – and the same was true in Glasgow in the early 1960s to the extent that the past was omnipresent, though unlike in India it was almost entirely from the same period, which, to use Eric Hobsbawm's phrase, was the long 19th century: 1789 to 1914.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the bigger picture for investors is that game publishers in the United States are still almost entirely in the same business they have been in for 20 years: selling new games at retail.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost entirely the same", ensure that the context clarifies the minor differences that do exist. This prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "almost entirely the same" if there are significant differences between the subjects being compared. This can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost entirely the same" functions as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the similarity between two or more subjects. As Ludwig AI explains, it specifies that the subjects are very similar with only minor differences. It helps to qualify a statement, avoiding an absolute claim of equality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost entirely the same" is a grammatically sound phrase that expresses a strong similarity between two or more entities, allowing for minor differences. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's crucial to ensure the context clarifies these minor differences to prevent misinterpretations. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, including news, science, and everyday conversations. While alternatives like ""virtually identical"" and ""nearly the same"" exist, "almost entirely the same" provides a specific emphasis on the completeness of the similarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually identical

Replaces "almost entirely" with "virtually", emphasizing near-perfect similarity.

nearly the same

Uses "nearly" instead of "almost entirely", softening the emphasis on completeness of similarity.

substantially similar

Emphasizes the significant degree of similarity, suitable for formal contexts.

largely the same

Focuses on the major parts being the same, allowing for minor differences.

for the most part the same

Highlights that the majority is the same, with some exceptions.

almost indistinguishable

Focuses on the difficulty of telling the difference.

practically the same

Emphasizes the practical equivalence, despite minor variations.

essentially the same

Underlines the fundamental sameness, disregarding superficial differences.

much the same

A more concise way of expressing a high degree of similarity.

close to identical

Highlights the proximity to being completely identical.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost entirely the same" to describe two or more things that are very similar with only minor differences. For example: "The two models are "almost entirely the same", except for the color."

What is a good substitute for "almost entirely the same"?

Alternatives include "virtually identical", "nearly the same", or "substantially similar" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "almost entirely the same" or "exactly the same"?

"Exactly the same" implies complete identity. Use ""almost entirely the same"" when there are minor discrepancies.

What's the difference between "largely the same" and "almost entirely the same"?

"Largely the same" suggests that the major portions are identical, while ""almost entirely the same"" indicates a very high degree of similarity with only small differences.