nearly all

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly all" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a large percentage that is close to but not quite 100%. For example, "Nearly all of the guests at the party enjoyed the food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nearly all have failed.

The Economist

Nearly all won.

The New Yorker

Nearly all are unregistered.

The Economist

Astonishingly, nearly all did.

The Guardian

Today, nearly all do.

The Economist

Nearly all were illegal.

The New York Times

Nearly all slugs are worthless.

The New Yorker

Nearly all politics is local.

The Economist

Nearly all other ibises fly.

The New York Times - Science

Nearly all Samoans are literate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nearly all lost their power.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly all" to convey that a very large percentage is included, but acknowledge that there might be exceptions. This avoids overstating claims.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly all" when you mean "all". Ensure there are genuinely few exceptions before using "nearly all", otherwise, you risk misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly all" functions as a determiner, modifying nouns to indicate a quantity close to, but not exactly, the entirety of a group or collection. Ludwig AI confirms that its structure follows standard grammar rules and that is correct to use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

11%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly all" is a determiner phrase used to indicate a quantity that is close to, but not exactly, the entirety. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English, it's very common. Its primary function is to convey a high degree of completeness while acknowledging possible exceptions. It is most frequently found in news and media, as well as encyclopedic sources and wiki resources. When using "nearly all", it's important to remember that it avoids overstating absolute completeness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost all

Indicates a slightly less emphatic degree of completeness compared to "nearly all".

virtually all

Emphasizes the completeness to the point where exceptions are negligible.

practically all

Highlights that completeness exists in a practical sense, even if not technically absolute.

close to all

Indicates a proximity to total inclusion, without explicitly stating completeness.

the vast majority

Refers to a large segment, implicitly suggesting a few exceptions.

the great majority

Similar to "the vast majority", but may suggest slightly less precision.

almost without exception

Highlights the rarity of exceptions, implying near-total inclusion.

in almost every case

Focuses on the frequency of occurrence, implying a very high likelihood.

for the most part

Indicates that something is generally true, though exceptions exist.

by and large

Suggests general completeness or truth, with a broader scope than "nearly all".

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly all" to indicate that a large portion of something is included, but not quite everything. For example, "Nearly all students passed the exam."

What's the difference between "nearly all" and "almost all"?

While both phrases are similar, "nearly all" might suggest an even closer proximity to 100% than "almost all". The distinction is subtle and often depends on context.

What can I say instead of "nearly all"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually all", "practically all", or "the vast majority" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "nearly all of the"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. You can say "nearly all of the" followed by a noun phrase. For example, "Nearly all of the books were returned to the library."