essentially all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essentially all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that nearly everything or almost all items in a particular category are included, with a slight allowance for exceptions. Example: "Essentially all participants agreed on the proposed changes to the policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Essentially, all the contenders are fit.

The New York Times

They needed us, we being essentially all there was.

The New Yorker

Three orthopedic groups provide essentially all the orthopedic care.

The New York Times

Essentially all these efforts have been aimed at instilling concrete measurable skills, akin to vocational training.

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

Essentially, all the good parts.

Huffington Post

After menopause, essentially all women are sterile.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Essentially, all the auto companies did the marketing.

The New York Times

Crab cakes are essentially all crab and taste like it.

The New York Times

It says, essentially: "All for one and one for all".

The Guardian - Opinion

Essentially all possible backbone conformations are assumed.

AMB Express

Protein protein interactions mediate essentially all biological processes.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "essentially all" to convey that almost everything within a category is included, while acknowledging rare exceptions. For example, "Essentially all employees attended the training session."

Common error

Avoid using "essentially all" when there are significant exceptions. If a substantial portion is excluded, use a more accurate quantifier like "most" or "the majority".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essentially all" functions as a quantifier, modifying nouns to indicate that nearly every member of a group or category is included. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples show its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "essentially all" is a versatile quantifier used to indicate near-complete inclusion while acknowledging possible exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, from scientific reports to news articles. Related phrases include "virtually all" and "practically all". While highly frequent, it's important to ensure the context accurately reflects a high degree of inclusion to avoid overstatements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually all

This alternative suggests that for all practical purposes, all members of a group are included with only the rarest exceptions.

practically all

This option suggests that while some exceptions may technically exist, they are not significant enough to change the overall characterization.

almost all

Directly indicates a quantity very close to the entirety, leaving very little room for exceptions.

nearly all

This phrase conveys a sense of close approximation, suggesting a minimal difference from complete inclusion.

for all intents and purposes all

Emphasizes that, in effect, the entire group is included, with any deviation being purely theoretical.

in effect all

This alternative suggests that the end result is that all items in the group can be considered.

substantially all

Indicates that the great majority is included, enough to satisfy a given requirement or expectation.

in the main all

This phrase highlights that most things are included but can accept some exclusions.

pretty much all

A slightly more informal option, suggesting that all are included with only slight differences or exceptions.

largely all

Conveys that the vast majority is covered, possibly with a few notable exclusions.

FAQs

What does "essentially all" mean?

The phrase "essentially all" means almost all or virtually all. It indicates that nearly everything in a given category is included, but there might be a few exceptions.

How can I use "essentially all" in a sentence?

You can use "essentially all" to indicate a near-complete inclusion. For example, "Essentially all the data supports this conclusion."

What are some alternatives to "essentially all"?

Alternatives include phrases like "virtually all", "practically all", or "almost all", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "essentially all" and "almost all"?

While similar, "essentially all" often implies a functional completeness despite minor exceptions, whereas "almost all" focuses more on the quantity being very close to the total.