practically at the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically at the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two events occurred very close to each other in time, almost simultaneously. Example: "The two trains arrived practically at the same time, causing a bit of confusion at the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Wednesday Last full day with two fringes practically at the same time: on poverty and life-chances, and on the voluntary sector.

The Guardian

The difference now is that several catastrophic events have occurred practically at the same time, exacerbating conditions of poverty". Afsar Ali, an associate professor of environmental and global health at the University of Florida, US, agrees that climatic factors promoted the bacteria's multiplication in the Artibonite area.

The Guardian

And the rich man was no longer able to see the poor man from across the way from his window Both men died of the same affliction, both died practically at the same time, unaware of what the one had in common with the other.

Forbes

Apple TV+ will have challenges coming late to the video subscription market, missing some stellar content as an aggregator, and facing unprecedented competition in original content from existing players like Netflix and from Disney+ and Warner Media, which will be launching practically at the same time.

Forbes

She and I had similar pregnancy complications, practically at the same time, separated by thousands of miles.

Huffington Post

The agreement in lesion location was obviously consistent in conventional US and CEUS mode, since the same operator performed both techniques, the imaging approach was the same and the techniques were performed practically at the same time.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It was also accommodating, because it made the British executive's policy intellectually and therefore practically respectable at the same time that it made room for colonial preferences.

SEP

At practically the same time, the southern leader met in Tokyo with President Clinton and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori of Japan.

The New York Times

One night a waitress brought everything my party ordered — nine dishes, including pastas, main courses and side dishes — at practically the same time.

The New York Times - Food

He said further that since Mr. Pelosi accepted the $2 million and the house from her at practically the same time as she signed the will, he would have a hard time arguing that she was not aware of her actions.

The New York Times

Having both "big events" at practically the same time appealed to Anheuser-Busch, said Tony Ponturo, vice president for global media and sports marketing in St . Louis because the one-two punch "gets our year kicked off in a great way".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically at the same time" to convey that two events happened so closely together that the difference in timing is negligible for the purpose of your discussion. This is stronger than 'almost' but less absolute than 'exactly'.

Common error

Avoid using "practically at the same time" when there's a noticeable gap between events. If the events are clearly sequential, opt for phrases like "shortly after" or "in quick succession" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically at the same time" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the timing of an action or event in relation to another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically at the same time" serves as an adverbial modifier to denote that two or more events happened in close succession. Ludwig AI states it's grammatically correct and usable across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academia. While not as frequent as more common alternatives, it effectively conveys near-simultaneity and is supported by reputable sources. When writing, ensure the context genuinely reflects events happening very closely together to avoid overstatement. Consider alternatives like "almost simultaneously" when precision is paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practically concurrently

Highlights the very close time interval.

essentially simultaneously

Indicates that for all practical purposes, the events occurred together.

almost simultaneously

Emphasizes the near-perfect synchronicity of events.

nearly simultaneously

Similar to 'almost simultaneously' but may imply a slightly smaller difference in timing.

at almost the same moment

Highlights the closeness in a specific point in time.

virtually concurrently

A more formal alternative, highlighting the close temporal proximity.

in quick succession

Focuses on the rapid order of events rather than exact simultaneity.

in rapid sequence

Highlights order and fast pacing.

hardly separated in time

Emphasizes the minimal time gap between occurrences.

close together in time

A more literal description, less idiomatic.

FAQs

What does "practically at the same time" mean?

The phrase "practically at the same time" means that two or more events occurred very close together in time, to the extent that any difference is negligible or unimportant.

How can I use "practically at the same time" in a sentence?

You can use "practically at the same time" to describe events that are nearly simultaneous. For example: "The starting gun fired, and the runners began to move "practically at the same time"."

What are some alternatives to "practically at the same time"?

Alternatives include "almost simultaneously", "nearly simultaneously", or "in quick succession". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "at practically the same time"?

Yes, both "practically at the same time" and "at practically the same time" are acceptable. The former is more common, but the latter is grammatically valid and may fit certain sentence structures better.