practically at once

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically at once" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens almost immediately or very soon after another event. Example: "As soon as the meeting ended, the team began working on the project practically at once."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Prior to a certain date the action of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, imposing a fine, was notified to the steamship company, and demand of payment was practically at once made.

Cornell University

Practically at once, Jesse's vital signs began to improve.

Huffington Post

You wait ages for another crack at one of From Software's devilishly difficult video games to come along, and then two show up practically at once.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

So what's a white nationalist to do when he loses his family and the animating force of his life practically all at once?

Vice

Before the game, General Manager Omar Minaya stood in a hallway outside the Mets' clubhouse practically doing two things at once, announcing the latest injuries, then defending how they had been handled.

The New York Times - Sports

Not uncommon to the genre, the storytelling can feel reverse engineered, with prophecies and curses crafted to prop up the desired plot points; the supernatural mechanics can seem at once practically necessary and not worth bothering about.

Los Angeles Times

Junot Díaz writes in an idiom so electrifying and distinct it's practically an act of aggression, at once alarming and enthralling, even erotic in its assertion of sudden intimacy: "Dude was figureando hard.

The New York Times - Books

Trying to change everything all at once will practically guarantee that you'll change nothing.

Huffington Post

According to neuroscientist, Anita Collins, playing music is the cognitive equivalent of "a full-body workout, and it, "engages practically every area of the brain at once". More significantly, music playing has been highlighted as a powerful long-term strategy to improve brain plasticity, as well as overall brain's functioning.

HuffPost

This resulted in the maximum clustering size at once to be 5400 epochs practically.

Genes to Cells

While the rest of the band largely remained still, he practically vibrated around the stage, his shuffling somehow rhythmic and awkward all at once.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically at once" to emphasize the rapid succession of events, creating a sense of urgency or efficiency in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using multiple intensifiers with "practically at once". For example, phrases like "very practically at once" are redundant and weaken your writing. Simplicity often enhances clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically at once" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. It emphasizes that something happens very quickly after a preceding event. Ludwig's examples illustrate this use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically at once" functions as an adverbial phrase to describe events that happen almost immediately after each other. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its frequency is relatively low. It's commonly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, denoting a swift and near-instantaneous sequence of events. When using this phrase, be mindful of avoiding redundancy by omitting unnecessary intensifiers. Alternatives like "almost immediately" or "very quickly" can offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost immediately

Replaces "practically" with "almost", emphasizing the slight difference from being completely immediate.

near instantly

A shorter, more concise alternative focusing on the near-instantaneous nature of the event.

virtually instantaneously

Emphasizes speed and lack of delay even more strongly by using "instantaneously".

almost right away

Uses a more casual tone while maintaining the sense of near-immediacy.

swiftly following

Highlights the promptness with which one event follows another.

very quickly

A simpler and more general way to express the rapid succession of events.

hardly later

Focuses on the minimal delay between two occurrences.

directly after

Indicates that something happens in the direct aftermath of another action or event.

in short order

Implies efficiency and speed in the execution or occurrence of something.

forthwith

A more formal and somewhat archaic term meaning immediately.

FAQs

What does "practically at once" mean?

The phrase "practically at once" means almost immediately or very soon after something else happens. It indicates a minimal delay between two events.

How can I use "practically at once" in a sentence?

You can use "practically at once" to describe actions or events that follow each other in rapid succession. For example, "The company responded "almost immediately" to the crisis, addressing concerns "practically at once".

What are some alternatives to "practically at once"?

Some alternatives to "practically at once" include "almost immediately", "very quickly", and "near instantly". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is "practically at once" formal or informal?

"Practically at once" falls somewhere between formal and informal. While understandable in most contexts, alternatives like "almost immediately" might be preferable in very formal writing.