for several if not all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for several if not all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something applies to a number of items or people, and possibly to all of them, suggesting a degree of uncertainty about whether it includes everyone. Example: "The new policy will benefit for several if not all employees in the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was widely believed that each taste cell carried sensors for several, if not all, of the five tastes, with the signals being decoded in the brain.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Breast tumors may originate from several, if not all, of the cell types within this complex mammary hierarchy.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Besides arachidonic acid released from cellular membranes for eicosanoid synthesis, several if not all sPLA2s have recently been implicated in hydrolysis of phospholipids in lipoprotein particles.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

For evaluating the proposed algorithms, we have coded several, if not all, known SDST flowshop specific algorithms.

European Journal of Operational Research

Expect them to eclipse several if not all of these services after learning from them.

TechCrunch

The ones that seem to defy several, if not all, the aspects of his theories.

Huffington Post

Gifted individuals with OE's tend to experience several, if not all, of the following five categories of overexcitability.

HuffPost

Thus, the empirical findings indicate that several – if not all – problems addressed by the Pillars are relevant to this population.

Global Health Action

In Nigeria, Boko Haram was responsible for most, if not all, of the nearly 1,300 abductions, including several hundred girls from a school in Chibok.

Los Angeles Times

Several influential studies using aggregate data have suggested that the recent growth in DI participation may account for much, if not all of the employment decline of men with work limitations2.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Prevention is your absolute countermeasure for most, if not all, of these possible threats.

Techno Security's Guide to Managing Risks for IT Managers, Auditors, and Investigators

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for several if not all" to suggest a degree of uncertainty about whether something includes every single member of a group, while still indicating it applies to a significant portion.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "for several if not all" in highly formal or scientific writing where precise language is preferred. Consider more definitive alternatives if the context allows or requires it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for several if not all" functions as a quantifier and a qualifier. It specifies a portion of a group, suggesting it applies to a notable number while leaving open the possibility it includes the entirety. Ludwig AI validates this use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

37%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for several if not all" is a versatile quantifier and qualifier, employed to express that a statement applies to a notable portion of a group with a degree of uncertainty about its completeness. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and frequent occurrence across various domains, notably in Science and News & Media. While appropriate for neutral contexts, consider alternative phrases for formal or precise scientific writing. The phrase serves to communicate approximation, making it suitable for scenarios where absolute certainty isn't required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for many if not all

Replaces "several" with "many", indicating a larger but still possibly incomplete group.

for most if not all

Emphasizes a high proportion while allowing for exceptions.

for a majority if not all

Uses "a majority" to emphasize a larger proportion, similar to "most", while maintaining the potential for completeness.

for some if not all

Replaces "several" with "some", suggesting a smaller, indefinite number while retaining the possibility of including the entirety.

for numerous if not all

Replaces "several" with "numerous", indicating a large, unspecified quantity with the possibility of including the whole.

a number if not all

Uses "a number" instead of "several" to denote an unspecified quantity, maintaining the potential for encompassing everything.

for a good few if not all

Replaces "several" with "a good few", providing a more descriptive and slightly informal alternative.

quite a few if not all

Replaces "several" with a more colloquial "quite a few", conveying a similar sense of quantity and possibility of completeness.

for various if not all

Substitutes "several" with "various", emphasizing the diversity of the items or people being referred to, while retaining the potential for encompassing everything.

for a few if not all

Substitutes "several" with "a few", indicating a smaller quantity but retaining the 'if not all' clause.

FAQs

How can I use "for several if not all" in a sentence?

You can use "for several if not all" to indicate that something applies to a number of items or people, and possibly to all of them. For example: "The new policy will benefit "for several if not all" employees in the company."

What are some alternatives to "for several if not all"?

You can use alternatives like "for many if not all", "for most if not all", or "a number if not all" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "for several if not all" or "for most if not all"?

The choice between "for several if not all" and "for most if not all" depends on the intended emphasis. "For several if not all" suggests a smaller base number with the possibility of including everything, while "for most if not all" emphasizes a higher proportion.

When is it appropriate to use "for several if not all" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "for several if not all" when you want to convey that something applies to a notable portion of a group, but you're uncertain if it encompasses every single member. It's suitable for contexts where absolute precision isn't crucial.