practically no one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically no one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that almost nobody is included in a particular situation or group. Example: "In the last election, practically no one turned out to vote, leading to a record low in participation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He had written of the future: "I... cannot think of a single person who could say what I believe needs to be said... there is practically no one on whose judgement I could rely".

Wikipedia

Practically no one, aside from zealots on either side of the issue, will take the time to develop an informed opinion -- that would require too much work.

HuffPost

This defensive patter goes on as if his life depends on this little documentary, on a film about people practically no one has ever heard of.

The New York Times - Magazine

Although it was Gabriele who leaked almost all the documents, practically no one I spoke with at the Vatican thinks that he acted on his own.

The New Yorker

Practically no one wears a fedora, and there are almost as many women as men on the platforms during rush hours.

The New York Times

Practically no one, that's who.

The Guardian - Arts

I saw practically no one.

The New York Times - Arts

In rural areas, practically no one has a phone.

The Economist

"No," she said, "practically no one ever leaves".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Practically no-one does this.

BBC

The lack of a gold standard has contributed to the fact that practically no-one has used the same definition or measures of recovery or a successful outcome for sciatica.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "practically no one", ensure the context makes it clear that you are referring to a very small quantity, close to zero, and not just a minority. The impact lies in emphasizing near absence.

Common error

Avoid using "practically no one" if you simply mean 'few people'. The phrase is best reserved for situations where the quantity is verifiably and strikingly close to zero.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically no one" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a near absence of people. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis, which confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It modifies a noun implicitly, suggesting the quantity is strikingly close to zero.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically no one" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote that very few people are involved in a particular situation. As Ludwig confirms, its main function is to emphasize a near-absence. While the phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, it's important to reserve its usage to scenarios when there is truly a strikingly low number of people present. Alternatives such as "almost nobody" or "hardly anyone" can be considered for less formal scenarios. Its usage spans from news media to scientific publications, solidifying its place as a versatile quantifier in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually nobody

Emphasizes the near absence, focusing on the concept of being almost nonexistent.

almost nobody

Indicates that the number of people is extremely low, nearing zero.

hardly anyone

Suggests that the number of people is scarce or barely present.

scarcely anyone

Highlights the rarity or infrequency of people being present or involved.

next to nobody

Implies the number of people is so small as to be insignificant.

barely anyone

Similar to 'hardly anyone', stressing the minimal presence of individuals.

essentially no one

Emphasizes that for all practical purposes, there is no one.

effectively no one

Indicates that the outcome is the same as if there were no people involved.

just about nobody

Informal way to express that nearly zero people are present or participating.

a negligible number of people

Formally states that the quantity of people is so small it can be ignored.

FAQs

How can I use "practically no one" in a sentence?

Use "practically no one" to emphasize that very few, almost zero, people are involved or affected by something. For instance, "Practically no one attended the meeting due to the holiday" indicates extremely low attendance.

What's a less formal way to say "practically no one"?

Alternatives such as "almost nobody" or "hardly anyone" are suitable for more casual contexts, conveying a similar meaning of very few people.

Is there a significant difference between "almost no one" and "practically no one"?

The difference is subtle, but "practically no one" may suggest a slightly stronger emphasis on the near absence compared to "almost no one". Both indicate a very small quantity approaching zero.

Can "practically no one" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "practically no one" is acceptable in formal writing when used accurately to describe a situation where the number of people is very close to zero. Make sure to have a valid justification of a very scarce quantity of people before using this phrase.