The phrase "appeared to be virtually" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that seems to be almost or nearly a certain way, often in a subjective context.
Example: "The results of the experiment appeared to be virtually identical to those of the previous study."
Alternatives: "seemed to be almost" or "looked to be nearly".
But the mortgages appeared to be virtually in line with offers already on the market.
Murray's hopes of a comeback appeared to be virtually nil, and even more so when Nadal broke serve once more for 2-1.
The second observation was that malignant cancer, like diabetes, was a relatively rare disease in populations that didn't eat Western diets, and in some of these populations it appeared to be virtually nonexistent.
As recently as a year ago, Roethlisberger, a 28-year-old quarterback, appeared to be virtually untouchable as a two-time Super Bowl winner with the wealth, celebrity and entitlement sports stars have come to expect.
With three-quarters of the precincts reporting, Mr. Thompson, who decided to concentrate on Iowa in an effort to gain enough momentum to carry him to the contests in the Southern states were he was seen as strongest, appeared to be virtually tied for third place with Senator John McCain of Arizona, who had all but written off the state.
While all that putrid Republican conduct was playing itself out, the Democrats and most Americans appeared to be virtually unaware of how the Grand Ol Partyy was doing its most serious damage.
Of that, there appears to be virtually no chance.
In the latest polls, the race appears to be virtually even.
But despite this agreement on principles, there appears to be virtually no prospect that the 14 commissioners will get together to recommend applying sales taxes to the Internet.
Still, while there appears to be virtually no anti-American sentiment, support for a more religious society does exist, particularly in poorer neighborhoods.
Those suspicions were confirmed late last year when the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained what now appears to be virtually the entire Russian case file that it says gives full details of Robert Philip Hanssen's espionage career.
