practically passed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically passed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has almost been completed or achieved, but not quite fully. Example: "After months of preparation, we have practically passed all the necessary tests for certification."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Liberty players practically passed the Knicks in the hallway of Madison Square Garden yesterday morning, so early were they arriving to work.

The New York Times - Sports

"Who?" The pair were practically passed a torch when invited on to French & Saunders's bank holiday Radio 2 show last year.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Government conversion issues were limited to dealing with short-dated securities which had practically passed into money market hands, and the Budget introduced by Mr Churchill in April centred on one main idea which was favourable to trade and industry.

The Economist

"I came up with the idea for this series because a whole bunch of publishers were asking me to write a sexy psychological thriller and I practically passed out with boredom," she says.

The Guardian - Books

The flood in the Amur region has now practically passed its peak, the head of the Russian Meteorological Service is quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency.

BBC

As he was then, the 63-year-old former pediatric neurosurgeon looked practically passed out when he took the podium at the CNN presidential debate, his somnolent, soft-spoken style a complete foil to Donald Trump's bombast.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

After lunch, he films a video message on my phone for my young sons, making me practically pass out with joy.

The Guardian - Sport

Or federal government buildings so unobtrusive that you practically pass by ministries without even noticing (even the presidential palace is so lightly guarded you'd be forgiven for thinking it is just an impressive historic mansion).

The New York Times

The two of you could practically pass for twins, you sure could.' It took everything in me not to slap her.

Huffington Post

Despite initial fears that the election would be marred by bloodshed, campaigning has passed practically without incident.

The New York Times

"I have passed practically my whole winter in company with Negroes and have succeeded in getting into most of the important sets," he wrote.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically passed" to convey that something is extremely close to being completed or achieved, but with a slight reservation that it might not be fully so. This is useful in situations where you want to express near certainty without absolute confirmation.

Common error

Avoid using "practically passed" when you mean to express absolute certainty. If something has definitely passed, use "passed" instead of "practically passed". The term carries an implication of slight doubt or incompleteness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically passed" functions as a qualifier to the verb "passed", modifying its meaning by indicating a state of near completion. It's an adverbial phrase that specifies the degree to which something has passed, without confirming absolute completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically passed" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates something is very close to being achieved or completed, but not entirely. Ludwig AI confirms this. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to convey near certainty with a slight reservation. While alternatives like "almost passed" or "nearly passed" exist, "practically passed" offers a nuanced way to express approximation without absolute confirmation. Remember to avoid using "practically passed" when you mean full, definite passing. It's a useful tool for conveying shades of meaning with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost passed

Indicates a very slight difference, suggesting the action was just short of being completed.

nearly passed

Similar to "almost passed", this implies a close margin in achieving a certain state.

virtually passed

Implies that something is so close to passing that it can be considered as having passed for all practical purposes.

effectively passed

Suggests that even if not formally passed, the result is the same as if it had been.

basically passed

Indicates that the most important aspects of passing have been fulfilled.

in effect passed

Highlights that, while not officially acknowledged, the passing is operative.

for all intents and purposes passed

A more formal way of saying "effectively passed", emphasizing the functional outcome.

tantamount to passing

Emphasizes equivalence in effect, although not in actuality.

as good as passed

A more colloquial phrase expressing near certainty of having passed.

just about passed

Indicates a minimal margin by which something has passed.

FAQs

What does "practically passed" mean?

The phrase "practically passed" means something has almost, but not quite, reached a completed stage or threshold. It suggests near success or completion.

When is it appropriate to use "practically passed"?

Use "practically passed" when you want to indicate that something is very close to being complete or achieved, but there might be a slight chance it isn't fully so. It's useful in situations where you want to convey near certainty without absolute confirmation.

Are there any alternatives to the phrase "practically passed"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "almost passed", "nearly passed", or "virtually passed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "practically passed" and "passed"?

"Passed" implies full completion or achievement, whereas "practically passed" suggests near completion with a hint of possible incompleteness or reservation.