virtual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that exists or is simulated in a digital or online environment, often in contrast to something physical or tangible. Example: "The conference will be held in a virtual format, allowing participants from around the world to join online."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This hass a different slant: you battle virtual alien invaders with real-life punches and crunches.

The Guardian - Tech

You build your team first from parts, then battle opponents, form virtual clubs with friends, and find sponsors to keep building your rolling army.

The Guardian - Tech

The snapping feature, which automatically resizes windows on the desktop to fill part or all of the screen, has been enhanced, allowing tiling of windows, snapping side-by-side and an array of new layouts to including virtual multi-desktop modes to try to help computer and tablet users be more productive with both universal apps and traditional desktop Windows apps.

The Guardian - Tech

If you want to give your number to someone and you don't want to give them your real number, if you're online dating, for example, you can just get a virtual number on the app".

The Guardian - Tech

Trubshaw, who started the programming for MUD alone, originally planned to create a virtual world rather than a game.

The Guardian - Tech

A Jump-a-tron machine, for example, allows visitors to set the angle, mass, gravity and power of a virtual environment, then physically jump on to a mat to cause an onscreen character to launch into space.

The Guardian - Travel

One of the first exhibits is Mission Control: a room-filling machine that allows members of the public to customise a virtual world in real time.

The Guardian - Travel

Growth in the UK halved unexpectedly to 0.3% in the first three months of the year, while the US economy came to a virtual standstill, scraping growth of just 0.1%.

The Guardian - Business

Things rallied after a couple of hours – especially once the focus switched to Jeremy Vine in his deathless seat-by-seat virtual reality prison – but, sheesh, talk about a rough start.

The Guardian

Trend: virtual reality While The Lawnmower Man doesn't get points for anything else, it was at least the first in the virtual reality horror subgenre that plagued the 90s.

The Guardian - Film

Despite being more connected in a virtual way, many students feel more isolated, as they believe they have to hide their true self and present a perfect image to others.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing online experiences or environments, use "virtual" to emphasize the simulated or digital nature. For instance, "virtual meeting" clearly indicates an online meeting.

Common error

Avoid using "virtual" as a substitute for "almost" or "nearly" in casual conversation. While this usage is becoming more common, it can sound awkward or imprecise. Use "almost" or "nearly" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "virtual" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is not physically present but is simulated or exists in a digital environment. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Tech

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Travel

8%

Opinion

7%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "virtual" functions as an adjective denoting something simulated or existing in a digital environment, and is widely used and grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI. While increasingly employed as a substitute for "almost", clarity favors using "almost" or "nearly" in such contexts. Found frequently in news, tech, and business contexts, the term maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. Common alternatives include "simulated", "online", and "digital". To avoid ambiguity, reserving "virtual" for digital and simulated contexts will result in clearer, more precise writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Simulated

Emphasizes the artificial creation of an experience or environment.

Online

Focuses on the internet-based aspect of something.

Digital

Highlights the use of computer technology.

De facto

Implies something is true in practice but not officially.

Practical

Suggests something is effective or functional, even if not real.

Almost

Indicates a near approximation.

Near

Similar to 'almost', indicating closeness to a state.

Imitated

Highlights the copying of a real thing.

Potential

Focuses on the inherent capacity for something to exist or happen.

Cyber

Specifies something related to computers or computer networks.

FAQs

How can I use "virtual" in a sentence?

"Virtual" is used to describe something that exists or is simulated in a digital environment. For example, "We attended a "virtual conference"" or "The company created a "virtual tour" of their facilities".

What are some alternatives to the word "virtual"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "simulated", "online", "digital", or "de facto".

Is it correct to use "virtual" to mean "almost" or "nearly"?

While this usage is increasingly common, it's often considered less precise. It's better to use "almost" or "nearly" when you mean a close approximation. For instance, "The project was in "near completion"" is clearer than "The project was in virtual completion".

What's the difference between "virtual" and "real"?

"Virtual" describes something that is simulated or exists in a digital environment, while "real" refers to something that physically exists. For example, a "virtual classroom" is an online learning environment, whereas a real classroom is a physical space for learning.