practically as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is nearly equivalent to something else in a practical sense. Example: "The new software is practically as efficient as the previous version, making the transition seamless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was old, practically as old as Bertie.

The New Yorker

Associating products with certain values is a tactic practically as old as advertising itself.

The New Yorker

Making fun of politicians is a pastime practically as old as politics itself.

The New Yorker

Today, though, the underground is practically as crowded as the streets above.

The New York Times

But Zardetto also makes a non-D.O.C. prosecco, which we liked practically as much.

The New York Times - Food

We humans figured out practically as soon as we were invented that we needed clothing of some kind.

The New York Times

The cork was practically as wide as a gas cap and presented a daunting challenge to the typical waiter's corkscrew.

The New York Times - Food

For practically as long as the Oglala Sioux have lived on the Pine Ridge reservation, alcohol has been seen as one of the tribe's greatest enemies.

The New York Times

Today's Golf, Focus and Astra are practically as big as a Mondeo once was, while a new Mondeo or a Vauxhall Insignia are truly large cars.

Independent

Now the building has been there so long it is practically as much a part of Miami's history as the Fontainebleau, and it looks almost quaint.

The New Yorker

America, in fact, had never even thought of parité, and still hasn't, and its record on women in political office is practically as dismal as France's.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically as" to emphasize a functional or real-world similarity rather than a perfect equivalence. This is suitable when the difference is negligible in a given context.

Common error

Avoid using "practically as" when there are significant differences between the items being compared. Ensure the context justifies the near-equivalence you are implying.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically as" functions as an intensifier in comparative statements. It indicates that something is very close to being equivalent to something else in a real or functional sense, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically as" is a common and grammatically correct way to express near-equivalence between two subjects, according to Ludwig. It is frequently used in news and media and scientific contexts to indicate that something is almost, but not perfectly, the same as something else in terms of functionality or effect. While alternatives such as "almost as" and "nearly as" exist, "practically as" emphasizes a real-world similarity. Use it when the difference between the compared items is negligible in the given situation. The phrase is versatile and suitable for a range of registers, as demonstrated by Ludwig's diverse examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as

Indicates a slightly lower degree of equivalence compared to "practically as".

nearly as

Similar to "almost as", implying a close but not exact equivalence.

virtually as

Emphasizes the equivalence from a functional or effective standpoint.

essentially as

Highlights the fundamental similarity between two things.

in effect as

Focuses on the practical outcome being similar.

tantamount to

Implies equivalence in consequence or effect.

comparable to

Indicates a level of similarity worth comparing.

much like

Suggests a strong resemblance or similarity.

akin to

Implies a similarity in nature or quality.

on par with

Highlights that two things are at the same level or standard.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "practically as" in a sentence?

Use "practically as" when you want to convey that two things are nearly equivalent in a functional or real-world sense, even if they aren't perfectly identical. For example, "The substitute teacher was "almost as" effective as the regular teacher".

Are there any alternatives to using "practically as"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "almost as", "nearly as", or "virtually as" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

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

"Practically as" implies real-world equivalence, while "theoretically as" suggests equivalence in principle but not necessarily in practice. For instance, a solution might be theoretically as effective as another, but "not as useful" in a real-world application.

Is it correct to use "practically as good as"?

Yes, "practically as good as" is a common and correct usage. It means that something is almost as good as something else, close enough that the difference is negligible in practical terms. For example, "The refurbished laptop is "nearly as good as" new".