almost everything except a handful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost everything except a handful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that nearly all items or aspects are included, with only a few exceptions. Example: "The store has almost everything except a handful of specialty items that are hard to find."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is it coincidence that he was almost everything except an attorney?

Forbes

I tried to do almost everything, except throw a baseball, left-handed: opening a door, turning on the radio everything.

Wikipedia

Dunham got rid of almost everything, except art, accessories and a few pieces that had belonged to her mother.

The Washington Post

"I shop online for almost everything except groceries," says Qian Hu, a town planner who lives in a suburb.

BBC

What followed in a country that imports almost everything except fish and hot water is a temporary surge in inflation.

The Economist

In Benikrukru, a village not too far away, almost everything except the private houses has been provided by Chevron: a generator, a water tank, a primary school.

The New York Times

Impervious to almost everything except gravity, they would form a shadow universe clumping together into invisible clouds that then attract ordinary matter.

The New York Times - Science

Almost everything except my computer, phone and a few files had to go.

HuffPost

Taiwan has long behaved as a normal country in almost everything except its dealings with its large neighbour.

The Economist

I find this an unconvincing argument for almost everything, except perhaps crepes suzette.

The Economist

How'd I do?" The impression given here is of a man who knows almost everything about almost everything except his own personality.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost everything except a handful", ensure the context clearly defines what the "handful" refers to, to avoid ambiguity. Be specific about the exceptions for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "almost everything except a handful" when the exceptions are significant or numerous. This can mislead the reader. If the exceptions are substantial, consider rephrasing to highlight what is included rather than what is excluded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost everything except a handful" functions as a quantifier, specifying the extent of inclusion with a noted exception. Although Ludwig has no exact examples, similar phrases in Ludwig suggest this phrase serves to qualify statements, indicating a near-complete inclusion with specific exclusions.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost everything except a handful" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express near-complete inclusion with a few specified exceptions. Ludwig, although it lacks exact examples of the query phrase, suggests this construction is suitable for various contexts. The phrase is classified as neutral and offers a way to express nuance, making it useful in writing and conversation. Understanding the phrase's function helps in precise and clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly all but a few

Replaces "almost everything" with "nearly all", maintaining the exception of "a few".

most things with few exceptions

Uses "most things" instead of "almost everything", emphasizing the exceptions more directly.

virtually everything barring a select few

Employs "virtually everything" for emphasis and specifies "a select few" as exceptions.

practically everything save a small number

Replaces "almost" with "practically" and specifies "a small number" as the exceptions.

almost all excluding a minority

Uses "almost all" and replaces "a handful" with "a minority", focusing on the exclusion.

everything but a small group

Simplifies the structure, directly stating "everything but" the exceptions.

largely everything with limited exceptions

Uses "largely everything" to soften the statement while highlighting the "limited exceptions".

the majority except for some

Changes the focus to "the majority", indicating a substantial portion, with "some" exceptions.

nearly the whole lot except for a few items

Emphasizes completeness with "nearly the whole lot", specifying "a few items" as exceptions.

substantially all but a small portion

Uses "substantially all" to indicate a large quantity, with "a small portion" being the exception.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "almost everything except a handful"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly all but a few", "most things with few exceptions", or "virtually everything barring a select few" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "almost everything except a handful" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate that nearly all items or aspects are included, with only a few exceptions. For example, "I packed almost everything except a handful of personal items."

Is it better to be specific about what the "handful" is when using "almost everything except a handful"?

Yes, being specific about the exceptions makes your writing clearer and more precise. Instead of saying "I know almost everything except a handful", you could say "I know almost everything about the topic except a handful of advanced concepts."

What's the difference between "almost everything" and "almost everything except a handful"?

"Almost everything" implies a very high degree of completeness. Adding "except a handful" introduces a small number of exceptions, making the statement more nuanced and accurate when there are indeed some exclusions.