nearly every

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly every" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that nearly everything is true, or nearly all of something is included. For example: "Nearly every student at this school strives to do well academically."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's nearly EVERY SINGLE lawmaker.

Huffington Post

Nearly every team punts.

The New York Times - Sports

I struggle, nearly every day.

The New York Times

Nearly every hand shot up.

The New York Times - Sports

Nearly every hand went up.

The New York Times

"There's trouble nearly every night".

The New York Times

Nearly every dish scored.

The New York Times

Nearly every time.

The Guardian - Film

Nearly every _C.

The New Yorker

Danger man with nearly every touch.

The New York Times

Nearly every dish sampled was a winner.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly every" when you want to indicate that a statement is true for almost all members of a group or instances of an event, acknowledging that there might be a few exceptions. For example, "Nearly every student passed the exam."

Common error

Avoid using "nearly every" when the statement is not broadly true. If there are significant exceptions, use a more precise quantifier like "many", "most", or "a majority of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly every" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that almost all members of a group or instances of something are being referred to. It suggests a high degree of universality while acknowledging potential exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly every" is a common and versatile quantifier used to express that a statement applies to almost all members of a group or instances of an event. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, this phrase is suitable for neutral registers, providing a nuanced way to express near-universality while acknowledging possible exceptions. Alternatives such as "almost every" or "virtually every" can be used depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost every

Slightly more direct in implying the approximation to "every".

virtually every

Emphasizes the practical equivalence to "every", even if not strictly so.

practically every

Highlights the functional similarity to "every" in most situations.

in almost all cases

Focuses on the instances where the statement holds true, rather than the exceptions.

the vast majority of

Shifts the focus to the quantity or proportion that is included.

almost without exception

Emphasizes the rarity of exceptions to the general rule.

close to all

A more informal way of expressing near-universality.

for the most part

Indicates that the statement is generally true, with potential exceptions.

by and large

Similar to 'for the most part' but often applied to broader generalizations.

typically every

Suggests that something happens in most occurences.

FAQs

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

Use "nearly every" to indicate that something applies to almost all members of a group. For instance, "Nearly every house in the neighborhood was decorated for the holidays."

What's a good alternative to "nearly every"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "almost every", "virtually every", or "the vast majority of".

Is there a difference between "nearly every" and "almost every"?

While both phrases are similar, "nearly every" might suggest slightly more room for exceptions than "almost every". The choice often depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I avoid using "nearly every"?

Avoid using "nearly every" if the statement is a significant overgeneralization. If the statement only applies to a portion of the group, use terms like "many" or "most" instead.