practically all of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically all of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that nearly every part of something is included or affected, often in a context where a small exception may exist. Example: "Practically all of the participants agreed on the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Although computationally simple and effective in practice, practically all of the structural descriptor-based methods share severe limitations.

Bioinformatics

Practically all of Mr. Norman's favorites lost.

The New York Times

"He has failed in practically all of his courses".

The New Yorker

High-class goods, practically all of it genuine stuff.

The New Yorker

It has also captured practically all of Ukraine's navy.

The Guardian

The insurgents now occupy practically all of Luhansk's official buildings.

The Guardian

"They were offered practically all of the land.

The New York Times

And by my count he's flubbed practically all of them.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Practically all of the early turbocharged cars used four-cylinder engines.

The Economist

Practically all of television has moved to the West Coast, & much of the talent lives there.

The New Yorker

Many — practically all of them — succumbed to AIDS over the years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "practically all of", consider whether the "practically" adds meaningful nuance. If no exceptions exist or are relevant, "almost all" or "nearly all" might be more concise.

Common error

Avoid using "practically all of" when the statement is, in reality, absolutely true with no exceptions. Using it in such contexts can introduce unnecessary ambiguity. Instead, opt for simpler phrases like "all of."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically all of" functions as a quantifier, specifying that nearly the entire quantity of something is being referred to. Ludwig's examples show its use in diverse contexts, indicating widespread applicability with the allowance for minor exceptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically all of" serves as a versatile quantifier that denotes near-completeness, acknowledging potential exceptions. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and widely used across various fields like news, science, and encyclopedias. When writing, use "practically all of" to convey that something is true in almost every instance, but be mindful not to overstate absoluteness. If no exceptions exist, phrases like "almost all of" or "nearly all of" may be more concise. Consider alternatives such as "virtually all of" or "essentially all of" to add nuance and emphasis to your writing. With its high frequency and broad applicability, "practically all of" remains a valuable phrase to enrich both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost all of

Indicates a very high proportion, differing subtly from "practically" in emphasizing quantity over exception.

virtually all of

Suggests the effect is the same as if it were all, even if technically not.

nearly all of

Similar to "almost all", but can sometimes imply a slightly smaller proportion.

substantially all of

Implies a significant amount, often used in more formal contexts.

essentially all of

Focuses on the core or important aspects being included.

in effect all of

Highlights the practical outcome being equivalent to full inclusion.

for all intents and purposes all of

A more verbose and formal way of saying that something is effectively all.

the vast majority of

Emphasizes the large number rather than a near-complete percentage.

a large portion of

Indicates a sizable segment, without necessarily implying near-totality.

the greater part of

Signifies that more than half is included, but not necessarily almost all.

FAQs

How can I use "practically all of" in a sentence?

Use "practically all of" to convey that something applies to almost every member of a group or aspect of something, while admitting a small number of exceptions. For example, "Practically all of the flights were delayed due to the storm."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "practically all of"?

Alternatives to "practically all of" include "almost all of", "nearly all of", and "virtually all of", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "practically all of" when "all" might suffice?

Using "practically all of" suggests that while exceptions might exist, they are insignificant. If there are truly no exceptions, then "all" is more direct. However, "practically all of" can soften a statement when absolute certainty is not possible.

What's the difference between "practically all of" and "basically all of"?

"Practically all of" implies that something is true in almost every situation, whereas "basically all of" suggests a fundamental or underlying truth. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize real-world application (practically) or underlying essence (basically).