practically to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically to be" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express something that is almost or nearly in a certain state or condition, but it is not commonly used. Example: "The project is practically to be completed by the end of the week, pending final approvals."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Not all people are equipped — psychologically, emotionally or practically — to be able to make these adjustments.

The New York Times

Certainly, by the 1970s, Dylan had eclipsed Ginsberg as a cultural, and countercultural, star; at times, especially during the Rolling Thunder Revue, Ginsberg seemed practically to be nipping at Dylan's heels, wanting but never quite reaching the aura of rock-and-roll adulation and glory.

The New Yorker

Evidently, I thought, this tendency had increased till Industry had gradually lost its birthright in the sky… Even now, does not an East-end worker live in such artificial conditions as practically to be cut off from the natural surface of the earth?

The New Yorker

So when some county officials threatened last week to see some lawmakers defeated this year at the polls, it was an attack on a way of life that legislators have almost come to see as a perk of the job -- an entitlement, practically, to be re-elected until the political will or ability to breathe runs out, whichever comes first.

The New York Times

No plaudits for the main stadium by US-based architects Populous – understandable in a way since its brief was practically to be as bog standard as possible – at which it succeeds (having a silly name for your practice doesn't help either).

The Guardian - Arts

Practically, to be able to adjust AOT for individual patients, more research has to be done to reveal correlations between specific improvements achieved by patients as a result of AOT and observed actions.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I am ready, waiting and practically dying to be pregnant.

The Guardian - Opinion

She had an innocence that practically begged to be corrupted.

The New Yorker

He claims that today, "because societies are practically trusted to be 'meritocratic', financial achievements are understood to be 'deserved'deserved

The Guardian - Books

Do some victims, consciously or not, practically beg to be conned?

The New York Times

We agreed that these wines practically demand to be served with food.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "practically to be", ensure the context clearly conveys the intended meaning of near approximation or equivalence. This phrase is best suited for expressing something that closely resembles a specific state or condition without fully achieving it.

Common error

Avoid using "practically to be" in highly formal or academic writing. While understandable, it can come across as less precise than alternatives like "virtually" or "essentially".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically to be" functions as an infinitive phrase that modifies a verb or adjective, indicating a state that is closely approached but not fully realized. Ludwig shows the phrase used to express near equivalence or strong approximation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

32%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically to be" is an uncommon but understandable way to express that something is close to being in a certain state or condition. While Ludwig AI doesn't flag it as grammatically incorrect, it's worth noting it's not standard in written English and suggests more precise alternatives may be preferable in formal writing. Its use is spread across various contexts, particularly News & Media and Science, suggesting a neutral register. When you need to convey that something is nearly a certain way without fully achieving it, "practically to be" can be used, but consider whether alternatives like "virtually to be" or "essentially to be" might offer greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually to be

Emphasizes that something is almost the same as something else.

almost to be

Directly indicates that something is nearing a specific state.

essentially to be

Highlights the fundamental nature of being in a certain state.

nearly to be

Indicates that something is close to being in a certain condition.

tantamount to being

Indicates equivalence in effect or value.

effectively to be

Highlights the practical effect of being in a certain state.

as good as being

Indicates a state that is almost equivalent to another.

all but being

Indicates near completion or existence in a certain state.

in effect to be

Emphasizes the actual or operative result.

for all intents and purposes to be

Implies being the same in every practical sense.

FAQs

What does "practically to be" mean?

The phrase "practically to be" suggests that something is very close to being in a particular state or condition, almost but not quite fully realized. It indicates a near approximation or strong resemblance.

How can I use "practically to be" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe situations where something nearly meets a certain criterion or state, such as: "The project is "virtually to be" completed, pending final review."

What are some alternatives to "practically to be"?

Alternatives include "almost to be", "essentially to be", "virtually to be", or "nearly to be", each conveying a slightly different nuance of approximation.

Is "practically to be" grammatically correct?

While not a standard or frequently used phrase in formal writing, "practically to be" is generally understandable and can be considered acceptable in certain contexts, particularly where the intent is to convey near equivalence or strong approximation. More precise alternatives are available for formal contexts.