practically double the figure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically double the figure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing numerical values or statistics to indicate that one value is nearly twice another. Example: "The new budget proposal would practically double the figure allocated for research and development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The number of diagnosed cases practically doubled, while the same was not observed with HSV, highlighting the benefits of using NAAT on a routine basis.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Today, the classic teen movie turns nine years old (practically double digits!), prompting lots of nostalgia around these parts.

Huffington Post

That was more than double the 1996 figure of $7.7 billion.

MIT Technology Review

In the US, parent channel AMC saw viewing figures for their Sunday night debuts practically doubling every week in the run up to the final episode (surely an indicator of the snowballing number of new viewers ploughing through previous seasons to catch up in time for the finale).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But Nintendo's Wii sales practically doubled that of the 360 with 109,548 units sold.

TechCrunch

Since 1970, the top 1percentt of Americans practically doubled their share of the nation's total earned income.

Huffington Post

But over the last week, he said, the size of the pile had practically doubled.

The New York Times

Although cosmetic giant Estée Lauder said its fourth-quarter profits practically doubled, it's still among the losers today.

Forbes

On the other hand, bioactivity of the coating is practically doubled when compared to Ti6Al4V alloy.

Materials & Design

The HTHi motif practically doubles its helical content when binding to LTR34.

Plosone

With the development of these agents, the progression-free survival (PFS) has practically doubled and up to 30% of patients achieve partial remission (PR) [ 25].

BMC Nephrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically double the figure" when you want to emphasize that an amount is very close to being twice as large, but not exactly so. It adds a nuance of approximation.

Common error

Avoid using "practically double the figure" when the amount is precisely doubled. The word 'practically' implies an approximation, so use 'exactly double the figure' for precise doubling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically double the figure" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun phrase to indicate that the amount or quantity is nearly twice the original figure. It serves to emphasize the significant increase, while also acknowledging that it may not be an exact doubling. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically double the figure" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a quantity that is almost twice as large as another. According to Ludwig, it's often used to emphasize a significant increase without claiming exactness. Although examples are currently rare, its neutral tone makes it applicable across various contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the quantity is indeed close to double, and not exactly double, to maintain accuracy. Alternatives like "almost twice the amount" or "nearly double the quantity" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost twice the amount

Emphasizes the approximation to a doubled quantity.

nearly double the quantity

Highlights the closeness to being exactly doubled.

virtually double the number

Suggests that the increase is so close to double that the difference is insignificant.

essentially double the value

Focuses on the substantial equivalence to a doubled value.

practically twice as much

Rephrases the original to highlight the doubling in terms of 'much'.

almost double the size

Focuses on the increase in dimension or scale.

close to double the measure

Indicates a proximity to doubling the measure or extent.

in effect double the total

Conveys that the result is the same as if the total had been doubled.

tantamount to doubling the volume

Implies that the effect is equivalent to doubling the volume.

effectively twice the count

Indicates that the practical outcome is a doubling of the count.

FAQs

How can I use "practically double the figure" in a sentence?

You can use "practically double the figure" to indicate that a value is almost, but not quite, twice as much as another. For example, "The company's profits practically double the figure from last year".

What's a synonym for "practically double the figure"?

Alternatives include "almost twice the amount", "nearly double the quantity", or "virtually double the number". These options also suggest an approximate doubling.

Is it correct to say "practically double the figure"?

Yes, "practically double the figure" is correct when you want to convey that a value is very close to being twice as large. The term 'practically' softens the claim, indicating it's not exact.

What is the difference between "practically double the figure" and "exactly double the figure"?

"Practically double the figure" implies an approximation, meaning the value is very close to being twice as much. "Exactly double the figure" means the value is precisely twice as much, with no deviation.