practically everyone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically everyone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that almost all people in a particular group or context are included, with a slight allowance for exceptions. Example: "At the party, practically everyone was dancing and having a great time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Practically everyone voted for her.

Independent

Practically everyone had a story to tell.

The New Yorker

And practically everyone speaks fashion today.

The New York Times

Practically everyone in N.Y. was then immune.

The New Yorker

But practically everyone signs a confidentiality agreement.

The Washington Post

So did practically everyone else I knew.

The Washington Post

"Practically everyone was Caucasian," Ms. Liu said.

The New York Times

"Practically everyone who wants to work already has a job".

Independent

All farmland was occupied, and practically everyone was hungry.

The Economist

Because practically everyone I see is clutching an iPhone.

Independent

Practically everyone knew the words to every song.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically everyone" when you want to convey that a statement applies to nearly all members of a group, acknowledging that there might be a few exceptions. This creates a more nuanced and accurate depiction than simply saying "everyone".

Common error

Avoid using "practically everyone" when the statement genuinely applies to only a significant portion of the group, not nearly all. Exaggerating can undermine your credibility. Use phrases like "many people" or "a significant number of people" instead to reflect the true scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically everyone" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that the action or state applies to almost all members of a group. Ludwig shows that this phrase indicates a high degree of inclusion, while acknowledging potential exceptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically everyone" is a commonly used quantifier that conveys near-universal inclusion while acknowledging potential exceptions. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various sources, especially in News & Media. When using "practically everyone", it's essential to consider whether the context genuinely supports this near-universal application to avoid overgeneralization. The related phrases, such as "almost all people" and "nearly everyone", offer alternative ways to express similar meanings with slightly different nuances. With a source quality score of 84 and an expert rating of 4.5, "practically everyone" demonstrates its reliability and widespread acceptance in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly everyone

Indicates a close proximity to 'everyone' but acknowledges a small exclusion.

almost all people

Emphasizes the quantity of people included, focusing on 'almost' complete inclusion.

virtually every person

Uses 'virtually' to highlight the near-complete inclusion, with minimal exceptions.

the vast majority of people

Highlights that only very few individuals aren't included.

pretty much everyone

Uses informal language to convey a similar meaning of near-total inclusion.

almost without exception

Focuses on the lack of exceptions, implying widespread inclusion.

the overwhelming majority

Emphasizes the strength of the majority, suggesting very few are excluded.

for the most part, everyone

Acknowledges minor exclusions, stating that 'mostly' people are included.

by and large, everyone

Indicates a broad inclusion, with minor and inconsequential exceptions.

in effect, everyone

Suggests that for all intents and purposes, everyone is included, even if not literally.

FAQs

What does "practically everyone" mean?

The phrase "practically everyone" means almost everyone. It implies that a large majority of people are included in a statement, with the understanding that there might be a few exceptions.

How is "practically everyone" different from "everyone"?

"Everyone" suggests that all members of a group are included without exception. "Practically everyone" acknowledges that there might be a few exceptions, making it a more nuanced and often more accurate statement. You can use phrases like "almost everyone" or "nearly everyone" as similar alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "practically everyone" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "practically everyone" when a statement applies to the vast majority of a group but not necessarily every single member. This phrase adds precision and avoids overgeneralization.

What are some alternatives to "practically everyone"?

Alternatives to "practically everyone" include "almost all people", "virtually every person", or "the vast majority of people". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.