practically nobody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically nobody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that very few people, or almost no one, are involved or affected by something. Example: "Practically nobody showed up to the event, which was disappointing for the organizers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Practically nobody, he adds glumly, can get such cover.

The Economist

Practically nobody blames May for the terrorist attacks, of course.

The New Yorker

After all, practically nobody else in "Circus" is.

The New York Times

"But how that translates practically, nobody yet knows".

The New York Times

"I discovered that practically nobody had studied socialist fashion," she writes.

The New Yorker

Problem: practically nobody in New York has ever seen a Lebanese talk show.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

If you happen to be friends with the primary investigating social worker, all the better, because it is practically certain that nobody will ever find out your obvious conflict of interest because no one is allowed to know who attends or briefs the closed-door Case Review Committee.

Huffington Post

The league changing divorce between the two superstars was practically inevitable, although certainly nobody could have predicted the ugliness of its surrounding circumstances.

The Guardian - Sport

It was so easy to maintain, nobody had practically touched it for a year at the time of the raid".

Vice

Ten years ago, practically nothing was known about whale sharks, and nobody bothered them.

The Economist

All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically nobody" to emphasize the near absence of individuals, creating a stronger impact than simply stating "few people".

Common error

While "practically nobody" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing. In such cases, consider using more formal alternatives like "virtually no one" or "a negligible number of people" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically nobody" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun (often implied) to indicate a quantity that is close to zero. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and generally well-received.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically nobody" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to emphasize the near absence of individuals. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's widely accepted and can be used across various writing contexts, particularly in news and media. While "practically nobody" is generally versatile, opting for alternatives like "almost no one" or "virtually no one" might be more suitable for highly formal or academic settings. The key is to use "practically nobody" when you want to underscore that almost no one is involved, creating a stronger impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nobody

This variation is very close in meaning, emphasizing the near absence of any people.

almost no one

This alternative uses "almost" to convey a near absence, which is very close to "practically nobody".

virtually no one

This alternative replaces "practically" with "virtually", indicating a similar sense of near-complete absence.

next to nobody

This phrase emphasizes the idea that the number of people is so small it's almost nonexistent.

hardly anyone

This option uses "hardly" to diminish the quantity, suggesting very few people are involved.

scarcely anyone

This alternative uses "scarcely" to express rarity, similar to the idea that almost no one is present.

few people

This is a more straightforward way to express a small number of people, though it lacks the emphasis of "practically nobody".

not many people

This phrase is a simple way of saying a small number of people but lacks the nuance of complete absence.

a handful of people

This suggests a very small, easily countable number of people.

a negligible amount of people

This version is more formal and emphasizes the insignificant quantity of people involved.

FAQs

How can I use "practically nobody" in a sentence?

You can use "practically nobody" to emphasize that almost no one is doing something or present in a situation. For example: "Practically nobody showed up for the meeting."

What phrases are similar to "practically nobody"?

Alternatives to "practically nobody" include "almost no one", "virtually no one", or "hardly anyone". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "practically nobody" too informal for academic writing?

While "practically nobody" is acceptable in many contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like "virtually no one" or "almost no one" in academic or highly formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "practically nobody" and "few people"?

"Practically nobody" emphasizes a near-complete absence, suggesting that almost no one is involved. "Few people" simply indicates that the number of people is small, without the same level of emphasis on absence.