is virtually only

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is virtually only" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is almost exclusively or primarily the case, with very few exceptions. Example: "The solution to the problem is virtually only effective in specific scenarios."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

There is virtually only one show about husbands (BET's "The Real Husbands of Hollywood") and it's a parody.

The Washington Post

"As you saw from the decision of the people, it is virtually only one party, the Patriotic Front, that is in power," he told me.

The New Yorker

The haplotype C16111T C16187T T16223C C16290T G16319A T16362C is virtually only shared with the Ngöbe (19 matches that make up ∼41% of the Ngöbe sample) but was also detected in one Uruguayan [50].

Plosone

As shown in Table 1, El Salvador shows haplotype and nucleotide diversity values slightly lower than those observed in the continental North, South, and other Meso American populations, which is in part due to the fact that there is virtually only one Native American haplogroup (A2) represented in El Salvador sample.

Plosone

STAT3 is constitutively expressed, in contrast with other TFs whose expression is restricted to a single cell type [e.g. OCT4/Pou5f1 is virtually only expressed in embryonic stem cells (ESC ], or to single germ lineages, such as STAT4 (mesodermal) or SoxB1 subfamily members (ectodermal) [ 33].

Briefings in Functional Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Dr. Arden said he could not, but said such dismemberments are "virtually only seen in homicidal deaths".

The New York Times

Expression of hOGG1 was virtually entirely cytoplasmic; only sporadic-positive nuclei were observed.

British Journal of Cancer

But sometimes the budget is virtually the only legislation of substance that survives.

The New York Times

The fuel is currently produced only by a Sunoco refinery in Pennsylvania, and New York City Transit is virtually the only large user, according to the agency.

The New York Times

The fair is virtually his only public showroom.

The New York Times

Others felt queasy.Mr Museveni is virtually the only decision-maker in the government.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider replacing "is virtually only" with more precise language if the exact degree of limitation is known (e.g. "is 99%", "is almost exclusively").

Common error

A common mistake is using "is virtually only" when the situation isn't truly close to exclusive. Avoid this by carefully assessing whether there are notable exceptions before using the phrase. For instance, if something is mostly but not almost exclusively the case, consider using softer language like "is largely" or "is predominantly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is virtually only" functions as a qualifier, specifically indicating that something is almost exclusively limited to a particular instance or case. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is virtually only" serves to emphasize a strong limitation or near-exclusivity. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable. While found in diverse contexts, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific sources. When using this phrase, ensure the context genuinely reflects a situation where exceptions are extremely rare. Alternatives like "is almost exclusively" or "is nearly only" may offer more nuance depending on the intended meaning. Be aware of potential overstatement and avoid using the phrase when exceptions are more common than implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is almost exclusively

Replaces "virtually" with "almost", emphasizing near-total exclusivity.

is nearly only

Substitutes "virtually" with "nearly", indicating a close approximation to being the only one.

is effectively only

Replaces "virtually" with "effectively", focusing on the practical outcome of being the only one.

is practically only

Substitutes "virtually" with "practically", suggesting a real-world limitation to being the only one.

is essentially only

Replaces "virtually" with "essentially", highlighting the fundamental nature of being the only one.

is just about only

Uses "just about" instead of "virtually", conveying a sense of being very close to the only option.

is all but only

Employs "all but" to convey that something is on the verge of being the only one.

is tantamount to only

Uses "tantamount to" to indicate that something is equivalent to being the only one in effect.

is more or less only

Replaces "virtually" with "more or less", indicating an approximate sense of being the only one.

is largely only

Substitutes "virtually" with "largely", implying that something is mainly or mostly the only one.

FAQs

How can I use "is virtually only" in a sentence?

Use "is virtually only" to emphasize that something is almost entirely limited to a specific case, with very few exceptions. For example, "This treatment "is virtually only" effective for this type of cancer".

What can I say instead of "is virtually only"?

You can use alternatives like "is almost exclusively", "is nearly only", or "is essentially only" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is virtually only"?

Yes, "is virtually only" is a grammatically correct phrase. It is used to indicate that something is almost entirely limited or exclusive to a particular instance or situation. However, be mindful of overstating the exclusivity if there are notable exceptions.

What is the difference between "is virtually only" and "is almost only"?

While both phrases indicate a high degree of exclusivity, ""is virtually only"" suggests that exceptions are extremely rare and practically non-existent. "is almost only" may allow for slightly more frequent, though still uncommon, exceptions.