almost no one

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost no one" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small group of people or when describing a situation in which a small percentage of people or things are involved. For example: "Almost no one in my class passed the test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Almost no one is on the case.

Huffington Post

Almost no one talks.

The New York Times

Almost no one can.

The New York Times

Almost no one did.

The New York Times

Well, almost no one.

The New York Times

Almost no one came.

The New York Times - Books

Almost no one does.

The New York Times

"Almost no one wants it".

The New York Times

She told almost no one.

The New York Times - Magazine

(Almost no one recognized him).

The New York Times

Almost no one disputes that.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to convey that a situation affects only a tiny portion of a population or group, "almost no one" is a concise and easily understood phrase. Use it to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of an event or characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using "almost no one" when you intend to say "not everyone". "Almost no one" indicates a very small minority, whereas "not everyone" implies that a significant portion may be excluded. Be precise in your language to accurately reflect the scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost no one" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying the absence or near-absence of people. It modifies a noun implicitly, indicating a very small quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost no one" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate that very few individuals are involved in a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, predominantly appearing in news and media. While alternatives like "scarcely anyone" or "very few people" exist, "almost no one" effectively conveys the intended meaning with clarity and conciseness. Remember to use it when you want to express the rarity or infrequency of something concerning people, and avoid it when a broader negation is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nobody

A more direct synonym, differing slightly in emphasis.

scarcely anyone

This emphasizes the rarity of the occurrence or existence of people.

hardly anybody

Highlights the minimal quantity of people involved.

virtually nobody

Emphasizes the state of being nearly nonexistent in number.

practically no one

Focuses on the functional absence of people.

barely anyone

Stresses how close the number is to zero.

next to no one

Emphasizes the proximity to zero.

very few people

Directly states that the number of people is small.

a small number of people

Indicates a limited quantity of individuals.

a negligible number of people

Highlights that the number is insignificant.

FAQs

How can I use "almost no one" in a sentence?

You can use "almost no one" to indicate that very few people are involved in something. For example: "Almost no one attended the meeting", or "Almost no one understood the complex instructions".

What's a good alternative to "almost no one"?

Alternatives include "scarcely anyone", "hardly anybody", or "very few people", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "almost no one" or "very few people"?

"Very few people" might be perceived as slightly more formal than "almost no one", but both are generally acceptable in most contexts. The choice depends on the specific tone you aim for.

Can "almost no one" be used with uncountable nouns?

No, "almost no one" refers specifically to people. For uncountable nouns, you would use phrases like "almost no "almost no time"" or "almost no "almost no information"".