almost every

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost every" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate a fairly large (but not quite all) proportion of something, and it often implies that something small is excluded. For example, "Almost every student in the school voted in the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost every m.c.

The New Yorker

— accompanies almost every installation.

The New Yorker

HOLDER: Almost every day.

The New Yorker

Almost every Russian speaks English.

The New York Times

IT HAPPENS almost every week.

The Economist

Almost every night, in fact.

The New York Times

"I did almost every job.

The New Yorker

Almost every time," Nadal said.

The New York Times

The answer: Almost every kind.

The New York Times - Magazine

She runs almost every day.

The Economist

Almost every hand went up.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost every" to indicate a proportion that is close to but not quite all, leaving room for exceptions without negating the general trend. For example, "Almost every restaurant in town serves pizza", suggesting a widespread availability but acknowledging a few possible exceptions.

Common error

Avoid using "almost every" when the statement is definitively true for all cases. Instead of saying "Almost every cell in the body contains DNA", which is universally true, use "every cell" to accurately reflect the absolute nature of the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost every" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a quantity that is close to, but not exactly, all members of a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and very common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost every" is a determiner phrase that functions as a quantifier, indicating a large proportion with a caveat for exceptions. It is grammatically correct and highly prevalent in neutral contexts such as news and media. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. When using "almost every", be mindful of overstating absolute truths, and consider alternatives like "nearly every" or "the vast majority of" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly every

Emphasizes the closeness to totality, suggesting only a very small number are excluded.

virtually every

Highlights that something is true in effect, if not in strict reality.

practically every

Similar to nearly every, but can also imply a sense of ease or convenience in achieving the near-totality.

just about every

More informal, conveying a slightly less precise sense of near-totality.

almost all

Shifts the focus to the quantity being considered, rather than the individual instances.

the vast majority of

More formal and emphatic, highlighting the large proportion.

in almost every case

Specifically addresses situations or instances.

for the most part

Indicates that something is generally true, though exceptions may exist.

a majority of

Focuses on a quantity greater than half, but doesn't necessarily imply nearness to totality.

close to every

Emphasizes the nearness to totality without fully reaching it.

FAQs

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

Use "almost every" to express that something applies to a large majority, but not necessarily all, of a group or category. For instance, "Almost every student passed the exam", which suggests a high pass rate with the possibility of a few failures.

What's the difference between "almost every" and "every"?

"Almost every" indicates that something is true in the vast majority of cases, allowing for some exceptions. "Every" implies a complete, all-encompassing truth without exceptions. For example, "Every dog barks" is less accurate than "Almost every dog barks", as some dogs may be unable to bark.

What are some alternatives to "almost every"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "nearly every", "virtually every", or "the vast majority of" to convey similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

Is it redundant to say "almost every single"?

While not strictly incorrect, using "almost every single" can be seen as slightly redundant. "Almost every" already implies a high degree of inclusivity. However, the addition of "single" can add emphasis. For instance, "Almost every person voted" is generally sufficient, but "almost every single person voted" can underscore the widespread participation.