almost the entirety

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost the entirety" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is very close to being complete or whole, but not entirely so. Example: "The report covers almost the entirety of the project's findings, leaving only a few minor details unaddressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Indeed, Google relies on advertising for almost the entirety of its nearly $60bn annual income.

The Guardian

Newcomers Old Dominion, for example, will perform almost the entirety of a new album.

The Guardian - Music

For almost the entirety of the film, Cusack's whiteness goes unmentioned.

The Guardian - Film

Atlantic salmon are now commercially extinct throughout almost the entirety of their range but have become one of the most widely farmed fish in the world.

The New York Times - Magazine

They are learning how to at least look like they are thinking and have access to almost the entirety of human knowledge.

Independent

Organizers are doing their best to maximize geographic coverage during the three stages here: riders traversed almost the entirety of the island Saturday, from south to north.

The New York Times - Sports

It took almost the entirety of the following two decades until politicians even casually considered acting on that wisdom, but it's finally caught on.

The Guardian - Opinion

They run the numbers of more than 90 per cent of the FTSE 350 and almost the entirety of the blue chip index of Britain's 100 biggest quoted companies.

Independent

Reading a deceased witness's prior testimony into the record is not unprecedented, but almost the entirety of the case against Woodfox would rest on the words of dead men.

The New Yorker

Mr. Bieber played almost the entirety of his small catalog — a 2009 EP, "My World" (RBMG/Island), and an album from this year, "My World 2.0" — including limp numbers like "Up" and "Down to Earth".

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Irons said that "the important thing is to look at overall impact on people" and that on this score, "the vast majority of the population, almost the entirety of the middle class, would see more from Obama than McCain".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider whether "almost all" or "nearly all" might be clearer in some contexts. While "almost the entirety" is correct, simpler alternatives can sometimes improve readability.

Common error

Avoid using "almost the entirety" in casual writing. Phrases like "most of it" or "nearly all" often sound more natural in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost the entirety" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a quantity or extent that is close to being complete. This phrase serves to quantify something, suggesting a near-total amount, as demonstrated by Ludwig AI's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost the entirety" is a grammatically sound phrase that effectively conveys near-completeness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, and has a neutral register. While alternatives like "nearly all" or "the vast majority" exist, "almost the entirety" provides a nuanced way to express that something is substantially, but not fully, complete. When clarity is crucial, consider simpler alternatives to optimize readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly all of it

Replaces "entirety" with "all of it" and "almost" with "nearly", offering a slightly less formal tone.

the vast majority

Substitutes "almost the entirety" with "the vast majority", emphasizing a large proportion.

practically the whole

Replaces "almost" with "practically" and "entirety" with "the whole", providing a more informal alternative.

virtually the entire thing

Uses "virtually" instead of "almost" and "thing" instead of "entirety", slightly altering the emphasis.

close to the complete amount

Expands on the idea, using "close to" instead of "almost" and "complete amount" instead of "entirety".

substantially the complete part

Offers a more formal tone by using "substantially" and rephrasing "entirety" as "complete part".

a considerable portion

Shifts focus to the "portion" that is significant, rather than the idea of completeness.

the better share

An idiomatic alternative, replacing "almost the entirety" with a less common but understandable phrase.

most of the total

Breaks down the phrase into simpler components, replacing "entirety" with "total".

nigh the full amount

Uses "nigh" (an archaic term for near) and "full amount", creating a more literary alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "almost the entirety" in a sentence?

You can use "almost the entirety" to indicate that something is nearly complete or whole, such as "The project consumed almost the entirety of our resources".

What can I say instead of "almost the entirety"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly all of it", "the vast majority", or "practically the whole" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "almost all" or "almost the entirety"?

While both are grammatically correct, "almost all" is often more concise and easier to understand. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

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

"Almost the entirety" indicates that something is close to being complete but not quite, whereas "the entirety" means everything or the whole thing without exception.