practically a quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically a quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that something is nearly or almost a quarter of a whole, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "After reviewing the budget, I realized that we have practically a quarter of our funds left for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Fewer than 30percentt know what the Reconstruction was, and practically a quarter of them cannot identify Dick Cheney as the vice president.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Of the 1200 people who live on Block Island the year round, about a quarter are named Dodge, practically all the rest are named Littlefield, or Ball, or Mott, or Rose.

The New Yorker

"We now practically insist that Web pages load in a quarter of a second, when we had no problem with two seconds in 2009 and four seconds in 2006.

Huffington Post

But for the last few years there seems to have been a constant hum of disappointment from practically every quarter, every demographic, every customer, every country and regulator.

TechCrunch

It was fitting, perhaps, that the meeting took place in Equatorial Guinea, the oil-rich country ruled for a quarter century by idiosyncratic president-cum-dictator Teodoro Obiang, a man accused of practically every sort of human rights violation.

Vice

A quarter of a century ago, Hugh MacDiarmid railed against the "Burns cult", which adores Burns suppers but practically ignores Burns, and things haven't changed much.

The Guardian

For almost a quarter century post-retirement General Gul had remained a permanent fixture in the Pakistani media and practically was the bellwether of those sections of the Pakistani military establishment that were given to intrigue and ideologically-anchored adventurism.

Huffington Post

Net worth goes up before, during and after recessions, and it would make sense that with personal income setting new records practically every quarter, that the level of savings would too.

The New York Times

A quarter?

The Economist

A quarter are depressed.

The New York Times - Magazine

Four and a quarter".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically a quarter" to express that a quantity is slightly less than or almost a quarter of the total, adding a nuance of approximation. This is most suitable in contexts where exact precision isn't critical.

Common error

Avoid using "practically a quarter" when the quantity is significantly different from a quarter. If the actual amount deviates substantially, opt for terms like "less than a quarter" or provide a more accurate estimate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically a quarter" functions as a quantifier, specifically denoting an approximate fraction. Ludwig examples show its use in indicating proportions or amounts that are close to but not exactly one-fourth of a whole. It modifies a noun or pronoun to provide an estimated quantity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically a quarter" functions as a quantifier denoting an approximate amount close to 25%. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct. It is most frequently used in news and media contexts to convey a general sense of proportion rather than precise figures. Related phrases include alternatives such as "almost one fourth" and "nearly 25 percent". When using this phrase, ensure the approximation is reasonable and avoid overstating the quantity's closeness to a true quarter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost one fourth

Replaces "a quarter" with its numerical equivalent and uses "almost" instead of "practically".

nearly 25 percent

Expresses the quantity as a percentage, using "nearly" for approximation.

close to a fourth

Uses "close to" to indicate approximation, maintaining the fractional representation.

just under a quarter

Suggests a slightly smaller amount than a quarter.

approximately a quarter

Replaces "practically" with "approximately" for a more formal tone.

virtually a quarter

Substitutes "practically" with "virtually", implying near equivalence.

in essence a quarter

Highlights the fundamental equivalence to a quarter.

effectively a quarter

Implies that the quantity functions as a quarter in practice.

for all intents and purposes a quarter

A more verbose way of saying something is essentially a quarter.

tantamount to a quarter

Indicates equivalence in effect or value.

FAQs

How can I use "practically a quarter" in a sentence?

You can use "practically a quarter" to indicate something is slightly less than a quarter. For example, "Practically a quarter of the students failed the test" suggests the failure rate was just under 25%.

What phrases are similar to "practically a quarter"?

Alternatives include "almost a quarter", "nearly 25 percent", or "close to a fourth", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it more appropriate to say "practically a quarter" or "almost a quarter"?

Both "practically a quarter" and ""almost a quarter"" are acceptable. "Practically" may imply a stronger sense of approximation or estimation, while "almost" is slightly more direct.

When should I avoid using the phrase "practically a quarter"?

Avoid using "practically a quarter" if you have precise data. If the value is exactly or very close to 25%, state that fact directly for clarity.