nearly every student

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly every student" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a large majority of students are included in a statement or observation, but not all. Example: "In the recent survey, nearly every student reported feeling satisfied with their classes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

But college, clearly, was on the minds of nearly every student.

The New York Times

"In some classes nearly every student submits an application letter," it said.This has little to do with communist zeal.

The Economist

The gold standard in class, I was told by nearly every student I spoke with, was to create a game that was hard to beat but harder still to quit.

The New York Times - Magazine

The suburbanites were looking for an impoverished school to adopt and thought they had found a match in P.S. 306, where nearly every student qualifies for a reduced-price lunch.

The New York Times

Two and a half minutes into the lesson — the length of time it took that subpar teacher to turn on the computer — he had already laid out the problem, checked in with nearly every student in the class, and was back at the blackboard, to take the lesson a step further.

The New Yorker

Two and a half minutes into the lesson the length of time it took that subpar teacher to turn on the computer he had already laid out the problem, checked in with nearly every student in the class, and was back at the blackboard, to take the lesson a step further.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Nearly every Defy student walked toward the middle of the room.

The New York Times

Like nearly every other student in New York — or so it seemed — I spent my days protesting one thing or another.

The New York Times

Similarly, nearly every Princeton student pursuing a bachelor of science in engineering completes a senior thesis or a substantial research project, such as building a robot.

The New York Times

As a native New Orleanian (a 'Katrina Kid' as I was known at my evacuation school) and a Millennial, I realized as the 10th anniversary approached that nearly every undergraduate student across the country is a mid-to-late 90s baby.

Huffington Post

Nearly every PUGSOM student completed their pre-medical education in Malaysia, where learning is more teacher-centric and passive, whereas Western teaching styles emphasize learner autonomy and involvement through discussions.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "nearly every student" when you want to emphasize a strong trend or majority, but it's important to acknowledge that exceptions might exist. This nuanced approach enhances credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly every student" if the proportion is significantly less than a vast majority. Using terms like "most students" or "many students" can be more accurate and prevent misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly every student" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "student". It quantifies the noun, indicating that the statement applies to almost all members of the group. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and widely recognized.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly every student" is a versatile phrase used to describe a situation affecting the vast majority of a student population, without claiming it applies to absolutely everyone. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and suitable for use in English writing. It is commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to consider the actual proportion of students and avoid overgeneralization, and choose if it's better to use "most students" or "the majority of students", as a better alternative. Remember to clarify the student population to avoid ambiguity and maintain accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost all students

Replaces "nearly" with "almost", indicating a very high proportion with slightly less emphasis on the exception.

virtually all students

Substitutes "nearly" with "virtually", suggesting that for all practical purposes, all students are included.

practically every student

Emphasizes the functional equivalence to "every student" while acknowledging minor exceptions.

close to all students

Expresses proximity to the entire group, highlighting the small margin of exclusion.

the majority of students

Uses "majority" to indicate that more than half, but not necessarily almost all, students are included.

most students

A more general term that implies a significant proportion without specifying how close it is to "all".

a large number of students

Focuses on the quantity of students rather than the proportion of the whole group.

a significant portion of students

Highlights that the students represent a notable part of the entire student body.

the bulk of students

Indicates that the main part or largest portion of students are being referred to.

a substantial number of students

Similar to 'a large number' but with a slightly more formal tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly every student" to indicate that a large majority, but not necessarily all, of the students in a group share a characteristic or participate in an activity. For example, "In the survey, "nearly every student" reported feeling prepared for the exam".

What are some alternatives to "nearly every student"?

Alternatives to "nearly every student" include "almost all students", "virtually all students", "most students", or "the majority of students". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of precision you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "nearly every student" or "almost every student"?

Both "nearly every student" and "almost every student" are very similar in meaning. "Almost" may suggest a slightly higher degree of approximation to "every", but the difference is often negligible. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "nearly every student"?

It's inappropriate to use "nearly every student" if the actual proportion is significantly lower than a vast majority. If you're unsure, it's better to use a less definite term like "many students" or "a significant number of students".