approximately no one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately no one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that an event or situation is so unlikely that it is as if no one is affected or involved. Example: "When the announcement was made, approximately no one was surprised by the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Six years ago, on my podcast listened to by approximately no one at the time, Donald Trump took time out of his afternoon to warn me about China manipulating their currency, to discuss other economic issues, the exodus of manufacturing jobs - ideas very similar to his current campaign messaging.

Huffington Post

To approximately no one's surprise, last year's figures made for grim reading.

The Guardian - Opinion

And in news that should surprise approximately no one, Australians have a thing for uppers.

Vice

The VICE Guide to Capital Punishment.

Vice

Even today, it's as absolutely anodyne and acceptable as the version dear old Chic-champ Nile Rodgers turned in for the now-forgotten soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop III, a film that approximately no one born after 1992 has seen.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Since approximately 1995 (no one seems to know for certain), Paul has annually played Club Passim over New Year's, performing two shows on December 30 and two shows on New Year's Eve.

Wikipedia

Since it broke out in 2011, the Syrian Civil War has claimed approximately 500,000 lives, though no one is completely sure what the actual number is.

Huffington Post

While most patients in DAS remission had no SJs, approximately one in five patients still had at least one, and up to six SJs (figure 1B).

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Among the CT and DSL households, approximately one-third owned no land, one-third owned up to 1 acre, and 1 third owned more than 1 acre.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

In a period of approximately one year no candidates were observed.

Duke University

Even so, the visual system practices "size constancy" by perceiving the object as being approximately one size no matter how far away it is.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximately no one" to add emphasis when describing situations where very few people are involved or affected. It's more impactful than simply saying "few".

Common error

While acceptable, "approximately no one" can sound informal in highly formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "very few individuals" or "a negligible number" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately no one" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying the absence of people. It modifies a noun, implicitly or explicitly, to indicate that very few, if any, individuals are involved. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximately no one" is a grammatically sound and acceptable phrase used to emphasize the scarcity or near-absence of individuals in a particular context. While Ludwig confirms its validity, it's more suitable for neutral to slightly informal writing. Consider synonyms like "virtually nobody" or "hardly anyone" for similar effects. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, as seen in the examples, and should be used to highlight the lack of impact or interest from people.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nobody

A direct synonym, indicating a number very close to zero.

next to nobody

Indicates a quantity so small it's practically non-existent.

practically nobody

Indicates that for all practical purposes, no one is present.

just about nobody

Similar to "almost nobody", but slightly more informal.

hardly anyone

Implies a slightly greater, but still very small, number of people compared to "approximately no one".

virtually nobody

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the lack of presence more strongly.

barely anyone

Highlights the minimal presence of individuals.

scarcely anyone

Emphasizes the rarity of people involved or affected.

very few people

A more general term, but still suggests a small number of individuals.

a negligible amount of people

Replaces 'no one' with a more formal and quantitative description.

FAQs

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

Use "approximately no one" to emphasize the lack of interest or involvement. For example, "Approximately no one was surprised by the company's bankruptcy announcement."

What are some alternatives to "approximately no one"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually nobody", "almost nobody", or "hardly anyone", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "approximately no one"?

Yes, "approximately no one" is grammatically correct and functions as a phrase to indicate a near absence of people. Ludwig confirms its validity.

What's the difference between "approximately no one" and "almost no one"?

While similar, "approximately no one" can sometimes imply a slightly stronger sense of insignificance or lack of interest compared to "almost no one".