almost every member

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost every member" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a majority of individuals within a specific group, indicating that nearly all members are included except for a few. Example: "In the recent survey, almost every member of the committee expressed their support for the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Lansman recalls that almost every member was behind the resolution.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Almost every member of the gang who survived was wounded.

The New York Times

Almost every member of a team having something to prove.

The New York Times - Sports

(Unsurprisingly almost every member of the Portland cast is a former athlete).

The New York Times - Arts

"I have met with almost every member of the delegation, the speaker and minority leader.

The New York Times

In fact, Mr. Gruwell has organized events for almost every member of the sitting Board of Supervisors, according to people with knowledge of Platinum's activities.

The New York Times

Testimony at the Charbonneau Commission indicated that almost every member of Laval's City Council, including the man appointed interim mayor, had been linked to illegal political donations.

The New York Times

"Almost every member who lost, without fail, has said, 'I am proud of the work,' " said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader.

The New York Times

Almost every member of the cohort did make it through high school, and more than 80 percent of them enrolled in college.

The New York Times - Magazine

When discussing the draft, game strategy or a trade, for example, Popovich and Buford will bring together almost every member of the staff in a room, Budenholzer said.

The New York Times - Sports

Whereas in these tribal communities almost every member of the clan or the village was initiated, initiation in Greece became a matter of personal choice.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost every member" to convey that a very high proportion of a group is included, but acknowledge that there are exceptions. This avoids overstatement and maintains accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "almost every member" when you actually mean "all members". If there are no exceptions, use "all members" for clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost every member" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, specifying that the majority of individuals within a particular group are being referenced. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost every member" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that a large majority of individuals within a group are included, acknowledging potential exceptions. As validated by Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, though it's most common in news and media. The related phrases offer alternatives that can subtly shift the emphasis, from emphasizing near-totality (like "nearly all members") to highlighting the majority (like "most of the members"). When using this phrase, remember to avoid overstating totality and consider whether "all members" would be more accurate. This phrase serves as a versatile tool for precise communication across a wide range of subjects and settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly all members

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", slightly emphasizing the closeness to totality.

virtually all members

Uses "virtually" to convey that for all practical purposes, all members are included.

practically every member

Substitutes "almost" with "practically", suggesting that in practice, every member is involved.

the overwhelming majority of members

Stresses that the majority is not just significant but also clearly dominant.

the vast majority of members

Similar to "overwhelming majority" but puts more emphasis on a broad sense.

the majority of members

Focuses on the concept of a majority rather than closeness to totality.

most of the members

A more general term that indicates a large portion but without necessarily implying near totality.

close to all members

Expresses the concept of being in proximity to totality.

a significant number of members

Highlights the substantial quantity of members rather than their proportion.

a large proportion of members

Emphasizes the fraction of members involved.

FAQs

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

The phrases "almost every member" and "nearly every member" are largely interchangeable and have similar meanings, both indicating a quantity very close to the total. The difference in nuance is negligible.

When is it better to use "most members" instead of "almost every member"?

Use "most members" when you want to indicate a majority without necessarily implying that the number is very close to the total. "Almost every member" suggests a higher proportion than "most members".

Can I use "almost every member" when referring to abstract groups?

Yes, you can use "almost every member" when referring to abstract groups or categories, such as "almost every member of the team" or "almost every member of the committee."

What are some formal alternatives to "almost every member"?

Formal alternatives include "virtually all members", "nearly all members", or "the overwhelming majority of members". These options are suitable for academic or professional contexts.