approximately nobody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately nobody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that a very small or negligible number of people are involved or affected by something, often in a humorous or sarcastic context. Example: "When asked how many people attended the event, the organizer replied that approximately nobody showed up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Now that Sonic Youth have been on "Gossip Girl," abstract post-punk lyrics are probably a threat to approximately nobody.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

An exclusion zone was put in place to ensure that nobody would be within approximately 200 m of the building.

Wikipedia

Nobody talks about this subject.

BMC Women's Health

'No, nobody talks about it.

BMC Public Health

She noted: Nobody bothers about us.

Global health, science and practice

You slur something along the lines of "deserving better" and supply approximately six minutes of unmemorable intercourse in which nobody climaxes.

Vice

Nobody will talk about mental health/illness.

BMC Health Services Research

The study has been prone to large losses to follow-up; the full dataset contains approximately two thirds of an estimated 1 800 000 woman years of observation that would have occurred if nobody had been lost to follow-up.

British Medical Journal

b) "Nobody killed anybody; nobody raped anybody; nobody shot anybody".

The New York Times

"Nobody has bought me, No. 1. Nobody.

The New York Times

Nobody suffers; nobody dies.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximately nobody" to add a touch of understatement or sarcasm when describing a very low attendance or involvement. Be aware of the tone, as it can come across as dismissive.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately nobody" in formal reports or academic papers. It can sound flippant. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "virtually no one" or "almost no one".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately nobody" functions as a quantifier, indicating a very small or negligible number. It's used to describe a situation where the quantity of people is close to zero. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately nobody" is a quantifier used to describe a situation where very few people are involved or present. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English, often carrying a tone of understatement or sarcasm. While it appears in both news and scientific sources, it is best suited for informal or neutral contexts, and should be used cautiously in formal writing where more precise alternatives like "virtually no one" or "almost no one" are generally preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually no one

Emphasizes the near absence of individuals.

almost no one

Indicates a very small number, close to zero.

practically nobody

Similar to "approximately nobody", highlighting a negligible quantity.

hardly anyone

Suggests a scarcity of people.

scarcely anyone

Similar to "hardly anyone", implying rarity.

next to nobody

Indicates a number extremely close to zero.

a handful of people at most

Highlights the small size of the group, not exceeding a handful.

almost nobody at all

Emphasizes the lack of presence.

essentially no one

Conveys that, for all practical purposes, there are no people.

a negligible amount of people

Focuses on the insignificant quantity.

FAQs

What does "approximately nobody" mean?

The phrase "approximately nobody" means very few people or almost no one. It is used to indicate a quantity close to zero, often with an element of understatement or humor.

How can I use "approximately nobody" in a sentence?

You can use "approximately nobody" to describe situations where participation or interest is extremely low. For example: "When asked how many people attended the meeting, the organizer admitted that "virtually no one" showed up, or approximately nobody".

What are some alternatives to "approximately nobody"?

Alternatives to "approximately nobody" include "almost no one", "virtually no one", "hardly anyone", and "scarcely anyone". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "approximately nobody" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "approximately nobody" may sound too informal or flippant for academic or professional writing. More formal options like "almost no one" or "virtually no one" are generally preferred in such contexts.