practically was

USAGE SUMMARY

"practically was" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is almost or nearly true or accurate. Example: "Her painting skills were impressive, she practically was a professional artist."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

She practically was in tears.

The New York Times

It practically was: Mr. Huang signed the lease on Nov. 10 and opened on Dec. 23.

The New York Times

How did you approach this assignment, which practically WAS covering a foreign government's parliament?

The New Yorker

"Every member of the company practically was chosen by him, and I was immersed in those people," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

Jürgen Klopp, rather less stylishly but rather more practically, was wearing a cagoule with the hood pulled over his head.

Independent

The "practically" was generous.Yet whatever Dow Jones's missteps, the Review faced nearly insurmountable challenges to a business model that relied on advertisements sold across the region.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

I practically am.

The New York Times - Books

(Ms. Seymour practically is Nathalie Delon).

The New York Times

Coach Jim Harbaugh would practically be a folk hero.

The New York Times

Some dishes practically are their bones.

Forbes

And that has practically been achieved.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically was" to convey that something almost reached a certain state, but didn't quite fully materialize. This can add nuance and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "practically was" when you mean "actually was". "Practically" implies approximation, while "actually" denotes certainty and truth. Ensure your word choice accurately reflects the degree of certainty you intend to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically was" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a verb. It indicates that something nearly achieved a particular state or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is used to describe something that is almost or nearly true.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "practically was" is a grammatically sound construction used to express that something nearly reached a certain state or condition. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes something close to being true. While not as frequent as other similar phrases, it's common enough to be recognized and understood in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context calls for an approximation rather than a definitive statement. Alternatives such as "almost was" or "virtually was" can be used to achieve similar effects with minor semantic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually was

Indicates a state that is so close to being something that it has the same effect or result. The change affects only the word "practically" to "virtually".

almost was

Signifies a near occurrence or condition. The change affects only the word "practically" to "almost".

to all practical purposes was

Similar to "practically was" but with added emphasis on the practicality of the situation. Slightly more verbose.

essentially was

Suggests the fundamental nature of something aligned closely with a particular state. The change affects only the word "practically" to "essentially".

in effect was

Describes something that has the same practical consequences as something else. The change affects the word "practically" to "in effect".

tantamount to being

Indicates that something is equivalent to something else, often with negative connotations. Changed from a simpler adverbial phrase to a more complex, formal structure.

functionally was

Highlights how something operated or its role in a specific situation, emphasizing utility. The change affects only the word "practically" to "functionally".

for all intents and purposes was

A more emphatic way of saying something was nearly equivalent to something else. It's a longer, more formal version.

might as well have been

Emphasizes that the outcome or effect was similar as if something had fully occurred. Rephrased to focus on the perceived similarity to a complete action.

near enough was

Suggests something was close to being a certain way, primarily used in British English. This is an informal phrasing variation.

FAQs

How can I use "practically was" in a sentence?

Use "practically was" to indicate that something was very close to being a particular thing or in a specific state. For example, "The meeting "practically was" over before it even began."

What are some alternatives to "practically was"?

You can use alternatives such as "almost was", "virtually was", or "essentially was" depending on the context.

Is "practically was" grammatically correct?

Yes, "practically was" is grammatically correct. It's used to show that something was nearly or almost in a certain state or condition.

What's the difference between "practically was" and "actually was"?

"Practically was" implies something came close to being a certain way without fully achieving it, while "actually was" states that something definitively reached that state.