nearly everything

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly everything" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means almost all things or nearly all things. Example: "I searched through nearly everything in my closet, but I couldn't find my favorite shirt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Nearly everything lacked seasoning.

The New York Times - Food

Answers nearly everything but why.

Independent

Ms. Yates changed nearly everything.

The New York Times

WHAT WE LIKED Nearly everything.

The New York Times

We talked about nearly everything.

The New York Times

"Sell nearly everything you own.

The New York Times

Nearly everything has been denied.

The Economist

Nearly everything did.

The Guardian - Sport

I've covered nearly everything.

The Guardian - Books

Wyoming got nearly everything it wanted.

The New York Times

Nearly everything they did Saturday looked easy.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly everything" to convey that almost all items or aspects are included, but not necessarily absolutely every single one.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly everything" when you mean a small subset. Be precise; if only a few items are involved, specify "most" or "many" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly everything" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that almost all of something is being referred to. Ludwig examples showcase this in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly everything" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that almost all items or aspects are included. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and widespread presence across various sources, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like ""almost everything"" or ""virtually everything"" exist, "nearly everything" offers a versatile way to convey approximation with precision. When using this expression, ensure it aligns with the actual degree of inclusion to avoid overgeneralizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everything

Emphasizes the proximity to completeness.

virtually everything

Highlights the effect being practically the same as 'everything'.

practically everything

Focuses on the practical aspect of completeness.

largely everything

Indicates a major portion, close to everything.

substantially everything

Stresses the significant amount that is 'everything'.

close to everything

Highlights the nearness to being complete.

the majority of things

Shifts the focus to a count of things.

most things

A simpler, more direct alternative.

an overwhelming amount

Emphasizes the quantity involved.

a great deal

Suggests a significant quantity or extent.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly everything" to describe a situation where almost all items or aspects are included. For example, "Nearly everything in the store was on sale."

What are some alternatives to "nearly everything"?

Some alternatives include "almost everything", "virtually everything", or "practically everything", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "nearly everything"?

Yes, "nearly everything" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to indicate that almost all items or aspects are included.

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

While both phrases are very similar, ""almost everything"" might suggest a slightly smaller degree of inclusion compared to "nearly everything", but in most contexts, they are interchangeable.