practically no

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically no" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is almost none of something, suggesting a very small quantity or degree. Example: "There was practically no food left after the party, so we had to order pizza."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They had practically no customers.

The New Yorker

There was practically no reply".

The Guardian

They have practically no clothing.

The New Yorker

She had had practically no free time.

The New Yorker

Practically no steel is ever discarded.

The New Yorker

There is practically no rural population left.

The New Yorker

"It's got practically no oversight or regulation".

The New York Times - Arts

But that's practically no choice at all.

The New Yorker

There was practically no car left".

The New York Times

"There was practically no resistance," Koecher said.

The Guardian

Practically no relations with the neighbors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically no" to clearly convey that something is almost entirely absent, but be mindful that it doesn't imply complete absence, unlike "absolutely no".

Common error

Avoid using "practically no" when you intend to convey a complete absence. Opt for phrases like "absolutely no" or "none whatsoever" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically no" functions as a determiner or quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a near absence or very small quantity of something. Ludwig examples show it used to describe quantities of tangible and intangible things.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically no" is a useful and widely accepted way to express that something is almost entirely absent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalent usage. While versatile, it's essential to differentiate its meaning from complete absence, using alternatives like "absolutely no" when necessary. As seen in Ludwig's examples, "practically no" appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts, demonstrating its broad applicability and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually no

Emphasizes the almost complete absence, highlighting a technical or precise perspective.

almost no

A common and straightforward alternative, indicating a quantity very close to zero.

scarcely any

Suggests a minimal amount, focusing on the difficulty in finding or obtaining something.

hardly any

Similar to 'scarcely any', implying a small amount that is barely noticeable or sufficient.

next to no

Informal and emphatic, stressing the extreme insignificance of the quantity.

barely any

Highlights the marginal existence of something, often suggesting it's insufficient.

effectively none

Focuses on the practical outcome of having almost nothing, stressing its inutility.

negligible amount of

Formal and precise, indicating that the quantity is so small it can be disregarded.

a near absence of

Highlights the lack of something, focusing on the condition of being almost without it.

a paucity of

Formal and literary, indicating a scarcity or deficiency of something.

FAQs

What does "practically no" mean?

The phrase "practically no" means almost none or very little. It implies that the quantity or amount is so small as to be negligible, but not completely absent.

What are some alternatives to "practically no"?

You can use alternatives such as "virtually no", "almost no", or "scarcely any" to express a similar meaning, depending on the context.

Is "practically no" grammatically correct?

Yes, "practically no" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in both formal and informal contexts.

How does "practically no" differ from "absolutely no"?

"Practically no" indicates a very small amount, whereas "absolutely no" indicates a complete absence. Therefore, they are not interchangeable in all situations. Use "absolutely no" when you want to emphasize a complete lack of something.