practically every

USAGE SUMMARY

"practically every" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize how close to all of something something else is. For example, "Practically every student in my class brings their own laptop to class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Practically every character is bereaved.

Independent

Practically every door handle.

The New York Times - Style

On practically every network in the country?

The New Yorker

Practically every conversation was in Italian.

The New Yorker

Bloomingdale's sprouts restaurants on practically every floor.

The New York Times

A: I was watched practically every minute.

The Washington Post

"We were buyers practically every day".

The New York Times

Practically every choice has been a winner.

The New York Times - Sports

Practically every photograph of him is iconic.

The New York Times - Arts

Practically every nationality is represented this year.

The New Yorker

There are delays practically every day".

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "practically every", ensure that the context supports the claim. Avoid exaggeration or overstatement by verifying that the statement is generally true, even if not universally so.

Common error

Avoid using "practically every" when the statement is only true for a small majority. Overusing this phrase can lead to inaccuracies and weaken your argument. If a significant number of exceptions exist, opt for more precise language that reflects the actual proportion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically every" functions as a determiner, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun applies to nearly all members of a group or instances of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is correct and well-supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically every" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that conveys a sense of near universality or high frequency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context genuinely supports the claim of near universality, avoiding overstatements or exaggerations. Alternatives such as "almost all", "nearly all", and "virtually every" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost all

Focuses on the quantity being close to the total, rather than the idea of being commonplace.

nearly all

Similar to 'almost all', but with a slightly more formal tone.

virtually every

Emphasizes the effect being the same as 'every' even if not literally true.

just about every

More informal, suggesting a slight approximation.

in almost every

Highlights the occurrence within a range or category.

close to every

Directly states the proximity to 'every', implying a small number of exceptions.

for all intents and purposes every

A more verbose and formal way of saying 'virtually every'.

with few exceptions every

Explicitly acknowledges the presence of some exceptions.

effectively every

Highlights the actual result being equivalent to 'every'.

as good as every

Indicates that something is functionally equivalent to every, despite minor deviations.

FAQs

How can I use "practically every" in a sentence?

Use "practically every" to describe a situation where something is almost always the case. For example, "Practically every student attended the lecture."

What's a good alternative to "practically every"?

Alternatives include "almost all", "nearly all", or "virtually every", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "practically every single"?

While grammatically correct, "practically every single" can be redundant. "Practically every" already implies a high degree of inclusion, so adding "single" might not add significant emphasis and could make the sentence sound awkward.

What is the difference between "practically every" and "almost every"?

"Practically every" implies that something is so common it is close to being all-encompassing, while "almost every" emphasizes the quantity being close to the total. The choice depends on whether you want to focus on prevalence or quantity.