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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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is practically always

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is practically always" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs almost all the time, with very few exceptions. Example: "In our experience, the solution we provide is practically always effective in resolving customer issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

We tell our people, "You can't settle, because when you feel like you're settling, when you're not impressed by something they said or did, when you have reservations, when you have concerns, your intuition is practically always right".

News & Media

The New York Times

Mr. Merrin, who lives on the Upper West Side, said he was struck by the success of La Caridad 78, a dour Chinese-Cuban restaurant that is practically always packed.

Interestingly the number of tweets associated to the eliminated contestant (Joshua) is practically always the smallest.

We also determine the coupled pore-boundary mobility and demonstrate that the boundary mobility is practically always reduced by pores.

This is practically always true even when the eavesdropper is close to the receiver because the wireless channel decorrelates fast in space.

With a constant velocity for all the spheres, the movements of each is practically always the same, except when the robot hits one or more spheres.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

He was practically always there except when he was out on some imposturous jaunt or other, yet he was usually recognized and picked up by the police while he was jaunting around, rather than tracked down by them to his home in Brooklyn.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Not only in our world but in general to find out that women are practically always paid less then men, you scratch your head and think, 'Why?'" Lumley, who is to receive the prestigious Women in Film & Television lifetime achievement award on Friday, added that female actors accept less money than they should because competition for roles is fierce.

News & Media

The Guardian

Since logged forest areas in Finland are practically always regenerated, such changes do not cause any permanent land use change (LUC) impacts.

There are practically always errors in input data erroneous species presence absence data, structural and parametric uncertainty in predictive habitat models, and lack of correspondence between temporal presence and long-run persistence.

"Their discussions were practically always about money, and if Madame Bettencourt resisted his demands even a little, he flew into terrifying fits of rage," said one of Liliane Bettencourt's nurses.

News & Media

Forbes
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is practically always" when you want to convey a very high probability or frequency, acknowledging that there might be very rare exceptions. It's stronger than "usually" but less absolute than "always".

Common error

Avoid using "is practically always" when you actually mean "often" or "frequently". The phrase implies a near-certainty, so ensure your statement is accurate. Overusing it can weaken your credibility.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is practically always" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the frequency or probability of an event or state, conveying that something happens in almost every instance, with very few exceptions, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is practically always" serves as a powerful adverbial phrase, conveying a high degree of probability or frequency. It is deemed grammatically correct by Ludwig AI and is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, finding its place in scientific, news, and business domains. While it suggests near-certainty, it cleverly acknowledges the possibility of exceptions, distinguishing itself from the absolute "is always". For those seeking alternatives, options like "is almost always" or "is virtually always" offer similar nuances. When employing this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the near-certainty you intend to convey, and resist the temptation to use it loosely, which could diminish its impact and your credibility.

FAQs

What does "is practically always" mean?

The phrase "is practically always" means that something is true or happens in almost every instance, with very few exceptions. It suggests a high degree of certainty, close to "always", but acknowledges the possibility of rare deviations.

How can I use "is practically always" in a sentence?

You can use "is practically always" to describe situations or phenomena that consistently occur in a specific way. For example, "When dealing with complex systems, debugging "is practically always" more challenging than anticipated".

What are some alternatives to "is practically always"?

Alternatives to "is practically always" include phrases like "is almost always", "is virtually always", or "is nearly always". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "is practically always" and "is always"?

Yes, while both indicate a high frequency, "is practically always" acknowledges the possibility of rare exceptions, whereas "is always" implies a complete and absolute certainty. Using "is practically always" adds a touch of realism and avoids overstatement. Using "is always" can sometimes be too strong of a claim.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: