practically nil

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically nil" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is almost nonexistent or very close to zero. Example: "The chances of rain tomorrow are practically nil, so we can go ahead with the outdoor event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The verdict: practically nil.

The New York Times - Science

Demand was practically nil.

The New York Times - Tech

"Ring bidding is practically nil," he said.

The New York Times

The upside to a trade battle is practically nil.

The Economist

In Wall Street's view, the odds of Bass and Lindner hooking up had been practically nil.

The New York Times - Magazine

Following World War II, hundreds of thousands of Finns emigrated, while immigration was practically nil, owing to government restrictions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

In this way, outfitting holes in the specimen is avoided thus lowering the ratio of invalid tests, due to the local fracture in the pulling holes, practically to nil.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

US trade with Cuba is virtually nil; Cuba gets practically no funding from international organizations of which the US is a member.

Huffington Post

67, 73, 74 Quasi-crystalline structures have also been practically realized with nanoimprint lithography (NIL), or focused ion-beam (FIB) milling, 67, 74– 77 and have been implemented as architectures for solar cells.

Advanced Optical Materials

It isn't the oldest item of the more than 400 objects on display in the Jewish Museum of Maryland's new exhibit, "Beyond Chicken Soup," and its cash value is practically nil.

Los Angeles Times

Almost nil.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically nil" to emphasize the extreme lack of something, ensuring your audience understands the insignificance of the quantity or likelihood.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "practically nil" in highly formal or scientific writing; consider using more precise quantitative terms or synonyms like "negligible" or "effectively zero" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically nil" functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective, indicating that something is nearly non-existent. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. The phrase serves to diminish a quantity or probability to an extremely low level.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practically nil" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate that something is almost nonexistent or negligible. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and understood. With a high source quality score, its usage spans from News & Media to Science and Encyclopedias, indicating its versatility. While synonyms like "virtually nonexistent" or "almost zero" offer alternatives, the key is to ensure the register aligns with the context. Remember, while versatile, more formal settings might benefit from options like "negligible". Overall, "practically nil" remains a reliable way to express near absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually nonexistent

Emphasizes the near absence of something, making it almost the same as nil. Changes the adverb.

almost zero

Uses a more numerical term to indicate a very small quantity or chance. Changes the adjective.

next to nothing

An informal way of saying that the quantity or value is very small. Uses an idiom.

scarcely any

Indicates that there is very little of something. Changes both words.

effectively absent

Suggests that something is not present in a practical or noticeable way. Changes both words.

as good as none

Implies that something is so little it might as well not exist. Changes the entire phrase.

vanishingly small

Highlights how extremely small or insignificant something is. Changes both words.

negligible

A formal term suggesting that something is so small it can be ignored. Replaces the phrase with one word.

inconsequential

Indicates that something has little to no importance or effect. Replaces the phrase with one word.

barely perceptible

Suggests that something is so minimal it's hard to notice. Changes both words.

FAQs

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

Use "practically nil" to describe something that is almost nonexistent or has a very low chance of occurring. For example: "The chances of rain are "practically nil"."

What are some alternatives to "practically nil"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually nonexistent", "almost zero", or "next to nothing" depending on the context.

Is "practically nil" suitable for formal writing?

While "practically nil" is widely understood, consider using more formal synonyms like "negligible" or "effectively absent" in highly formal or scientific contexts.

What is the difference between "practically nil" and "virtually nil"?

Both "practically nil" and "virtually nil" mean almost nothing or nonexistent. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference, as they are largely interchangeable in meaning.