practically always

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically always" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs almost all the time, with very few exceptions. Example: "She practically always arrives on time for meetings, which is greatly appreciated by the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

The receiver practically always has undergone a special molding toward optimal receiving of the signal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I practically always eat by myself as I think you can enjoy the food more when you're not talking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He has gray hair & a wide, round face & practically always wears a billed cap & glasses, & on the water he smokes a cigar.

The New Yorker

"A STAR practically always asks for a designer, if she has any sense," Katharine Hepburn said in an unpublished interview from the mid 1970s.

The New York Times

We tell our people, "You can't settle, because when you feel like you're settling, when you're not impressed by something they said or did, when you have reservations, when you have concerns, your intuition is practically always right".

The New York Times

Mr. Merrin, who lives on the Upper West Side, said he was struck by the success of La Caridad 78, a dour Chinese-Cuban restaurant that is practically always packed.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Nonetheless, computer hardware and software designers widely agree that the near future will see Internet-connected devices practically everywhere, always ready to offer a virtual hand.

The New York Times - Tech

Like most pieds noirs, he never returned, after independence, to the country of his childhood, so that Algeria — and indeed a whole world of Francophone North African experience — could be experienced only in the mind, always practically lost.

The New Yorker

Her charm was as conspicuous as her fatness, and surely accounts for the way people were always practically lining up to be of service to her — not only Alice Toklas and friends such as Carl Van Vechten and Mabel Dodge and Thornton Wilder but perfect strangers.

The New Yorker

Practically, there is always lots of noise in the captured image.

Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid Publications

Practically, there is always a shift – eccentricity- between the effective action line of the force and the sewing needle geometrical axis.

Alexandria Engineering Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, make sure "practically always" is not followed by a statement that negates the meaning. For example, it would be contradictory to write "He's practically always on time, except when he's late".

Common error

Avoid using "practically always" when describing situations with frequent exceptions. The phrase implies a high degree of regularity; if the exceptions are numerous, consider using a weaker term like "often" or "usually".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically always" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency or regularity of an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to express that something occurs almost without exception.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically always" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to indicate a high degree of regularity, with the understanding that exceptions are possible. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is usable and correct in written English. It appears frequently in diverse contexts such as science, news, and encyclopedias. While synonyms such as "almost always" and "nearly always" offer similar meanings, choosing "practically always" allows for nuanced expression of near-certainty. It's essential to avoid overstating certainty and consider using weaker terms when exceptions are abundant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost invariably

This alternative uses a more formal tone to convey near-constant occurrence.

virtually always

This option emphasizes the rarity of exceptions to the general rule.

nearly always

This phrase offers a more informal substitute, signaling a slight chance of variation.

almost without exception

This option emphasizes the infrequency of exceptions, with a stronger focus.

in almost every case

This alternative highlights the prevalence of a specific situation across multiple instances.

more often than not

This option indicates a tendency or likelihood rather than near-certainty.

as a general rule

This alternative introduces a common pattern while still acknowledging possible variations.

typically

This offers a more understated tone, focusing on what commonly happens.

usually

This phrase highlights common behavior with room for occasional exceptions.

generally speaking

This option indicates that a condition is true in most circumstances.

FAQs

What does "practically always" mean?

The phrase "practically always" means something happens almost all the time, with very few exceptions. It conveys a high degree of regularity without implying absolute certainty.

What are some alternatives to "practically always"?

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

Is "practically always" too informal for academic writing?

While not overly formal, "practically always" is acceptable in academic writing to express near-certainty when absolute certainty cannot be claimed. More formal alternatives include "almost invariably" or "virtually always".

How does "practically always" differ from "always"?

"Always" indicates something happens in every instance without exception, while "practically always" allows for rare exceptions. Using "practically always" acknowledges the possibility of deviations from the norm, which is often more accurate in real-world scenarios.