practically

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "practically" is correct and usable in written English, and can be used as an adverb to mean "almost completely; very nearly".
For example: "She has practically memorized the entire script!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The book, Cameron: Practically a Conservative, describes how on a weekend Cameron may practice his game with a tennis machine he calls "the Clegger", after the deputy prime minister.

The Guardian

He made such a goofy production of trying to light the fuses hanging off his shoe that he practically asked the flight attendant if she had a match.

The Economist

Assange calls the site "an uncensorable system for untraceable mass document leaking and public analysis," and a government or company that wanted to remove content from WikiLeaks would have to practically dismantle the Internet itself.

The Economist

The Civil Contingency Act, presented as modernising emergency powers for the age of terrorism, allows ministers in an emergency, which they only have to believe is about to occur, to make practically any provision without reference to parliament.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even a mid-budget movie costs a lot of money to make, and needs to make it back whereas financial success was practically an obstacle to artistic achievement for most of the outsider musicians Frank celebrates.

The Guardian - Film

"The probability of Greece repositioning itself closer to Russia is practically zero for as long as Greece remains a full member of European institutions," said the Hellenic Foundation's Dokos.

The Guardian

"I cannot tell you how horrific of a feeling that is," she said, adding that the next thing she remembered was waking up hours later in the back of her car "practically naked".

The Guardian

Practically her only – overheard – quote has been "He's so lucky to be going out with me".

The Guardian

Podolski practically stopped in anticipation of the whistle and even Wenger said it was a foul.

The Guardian - Sport

What we have done up to now is practically unrepeatable.

The Guardian - Sport

If the international media want to be helpful especially for the conflict situation, they should exert more time and effort understanding practically what the needs are.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically" to emphasize that something is true in effect, even if not in reality. For example, "The project is practically finished" suggests it's very close to completion.

Common error

Avoid using "practically" excessively in your writing, as it can weaken your message. Instead, consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "virtually" or "almost" if they better convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "practically" primarily functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating a degree of approximation or effectiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it means 'almost completely' or 'very nearly'. Examples show its use in various sentence structures to convey near completion or virtual equivalence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "practically" functions as an adverb indicating something is almost or effectively true, though not necessarily completely. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. Analysis of numerous examples reveals its frequent use in news and media, with neutral formality. While "practically" is versatile, writers should consider stronger alternatives like "virtually" or "effectively" for precision. Using "practically" correctly means understanding its nuances and employing it to enrich rather than dilute your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually

Emphasizes that something is effectively the same as if it were actually true, though not technically so.

almost

Indicates a near approximation, but not quite complete.

nearly

Similar to 'almost', suggesting a close approach to a certain condition or state.

effectively

Highlights the actual impact or result, even if not formally recognized.

in effect

Focuses on the practical consequence or outcome of a situation.

for all intents and purposes

Indicates that something should be considered equivalent to something else, despite minor differences.

just about

Implies a slight degree of imprecision, but still very close to the described state.

pretty much

Informal way of saying 'almost entirely' or 'nearly completely'.

close to

Emphasizes the proximity to a certain state or condition.

as good as

Implies that something is functionally equivalent to something else, even if not identical.

FAQs

How can I use "practically" in a sentence?

"Practically" is used to indicate that something is almost or nearly the case, or that something is effective in reality, even if not officially. For example, "The work is "practically done"" means it's very close to being finished.

What can I say instead of "practically"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually", "almost", or "nearly" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "practically" in formal writing?

Yes, "practically" is generally acceptable in formal writing, but consider whether a more precise word like "effectively" or "virtually" might be more appropriate for your specific context.

What's the difference between "practically" and "theoretically"?

"Practically" refers to what happens in real-world situations, while "theoretically" refers to what should happen according to a theory. They are often used in contrast to highlight the difference between ideal and actual outcomes.