it virtually impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"it virtually impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a sense of extreme difficulty or impossibility in completing a certain task. For example, "It's virtually impossible to predict the future of the economy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Syrian government has made it virtually impossible to seek its response to such accusations.

The New York Times

At this point, competitors find it virtually impossible to dislodge the printer from its preferred position.

Harvard Business Review

But that decision left it virtually impossible to prove bias.

The New York Times

These incorporate various study designs directly, making it virtually impossible to compare data across studies.

The American Journal of Cardiology

So that has made it virtually impossible for us to take such students.

Princeton University

The act made it virtually impossible for the accused to get bail.

The New York Times

Congress of People's Deputies made it virtually impossible for the Gorbachev leadership to adopt austerity measures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Foreign journalists have found it virtually impossible to get Syrian visas.

The New York Times

Such an income would have made it virtually impossible to pay the rent.

The New York Times

This makes it virtually impossible for those on lowish incomes to plan ahead.

The Economist

(Modern vehicle design has made it virtually impossible to lock one's keys in the car).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it virtually impossible", ensure the context clearly defines the action or task that is near impossible. This will strengthen the sentence and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it virtually impossible" when describing situations that are merely difficult but still achievable. Reserve this phrase for scenarios where success is highly improbable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it virtually impossible" typically functions as a descriptor, characterizing a situation or action as highly improbable or extremely difficult to achieve. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it virtually impossible" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that serves to denote a state of near impossibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It finds common application across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Scientific research, and Formal & Business communications. While alternatives such as "it's nearly impossible" or "it's almost impossible" offer subtle variations in meaning, "it virtually impossible" effectively conveys a high degree of improbability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's nearly impossible

Replaces "virtually" with "nearly", indicating a slight difference in the degree of impossibility.

it's almost impossible

Substitutes "virtually" with "almost", suggesting a very high degree of difficulty but not absolute impossibility.

it's practically impossible

Replaces "virtually" with "practically", focusing on the real-world difficulty.

it's essentially impossible

Emphasizes that the impossibility is fundamental or inherent.

it's functionally impossible

Focuses on the functional aspect, meaning it cannot be done in practice.

it's effectively impossible

Indicates that the outcome is the same as if it were impossible.

it's as good as impossible

Uses a simile to convey the high degree of difficulty.

it's out of the question

Expresses that something is not worth consideration due to its difficulty.

it cannot be done

A more direct and simple way of stating that something is impossible.

there's no way to do it

Highlights the lack of a viable method or approach.

FAQs

How can I use "it virtually impossible" in a sentence?

You can use "it virtually impossible" to describe tasks or situations that are extremely difficult to achieve. For instance, "It is virtually impossible to predict the stock market's behavior accurately."

What phrases are similar to "it virtually impossible"?

Alternatives include "it's nearly impossible", "it's almost impossible", or "it's practically impossible", each conveying a slightly different nuance of difficulty.

Is it correct to say "it's virtually impossible"?

Yes, "it virtually impossible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English to express a high degree of difficulty or improbability.

What's the difference between "it's almost impossible" and "it's virtually impossible"?

While both phrases indicate a high degree of difficulty, "it's virtually impossible" suggests a slightly stronger sense of improbability than "it's almost impossible". The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.