virtually a quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually a quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate amount or proportion that is close to one-fourth of something. Example: "The new policy has resulted in virtually a quarter of the employees opting for remote work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"François Dalle did 25 years, Lindsay Owen-Jones did virtually a quarter of a century and Jean-Paul Agon is set squarely to do 15 to 20 years".

The Guardian - Business

"For almost three months – virtually a quarter of the year, from mid-July to mid-October – the House is not sitting, bar two weeks, and hence the executive has freedom from legislative inquiry," he said.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The fourth quarter has been virtually a dead quarter for ad spending".

The New York Times

About a quarter are apolitical.

The Economist

Why, the whole concept of light bulbs has remained virtually stagnant for over a quarter of a century!

The New Yorker

Tapping into a mood of anger and resentment over the deep recession, former TV comedian Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement came from virtually nowhere to win a quarter of the popular vote.

BBC

He repeatedly redesigned the property, spending millions of dollars remodeling the ranch house which went virtually uninhabited and building a quarter-mile horse-racing track with an observation tower, which reportedly was never used.

Wikipedia

Fierce criticism from virtually all quarters accused Truman of refusing to shoulder the blame for a war gone sour and blaming his generals instead.

Wikipedia

That's two and a quarter hours, virtually stress-free, door to door.

The Guardian - Travel

In earlier surveys, the three top candidates were virtually tied, but at least a quarter of the electorate said it was undecided.

The New York Times

In February Hodgson himself said: "Harry's receiving all the backing from virtually all quarters, but it's up to them to decide what they want to do and I don't think it's right for people like myself to say: 'I'm interested or I'm not interested' in the job because I've no idea what the FA have got in mind and what they want to do.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "virtually a quarter", ensure the context supports an approximate value rather than an exact measurement. Use it when precision isn't critical.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually a quarter" when precise data is available. If you have the exact percentage or fraction, use that instead to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually a quarter" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a numerical expression. It qualifies the noun phrase "a quarter", indicating an approximate quantity close to 25%. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually a quarter" is a grammatically sound expression used to indicate an approximate quantity close to 25%. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. It functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying numerical expressions to provide an estimation rather than a precise value. While the phrase appears across various contexts, it is most commonly found in News & Media. For more formal or precise writing, alternatives like "approximately one-fourth" or "almost a quarter" may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost a quarter

Emphasizes the nearness to, but not quite reaching, a quarter.

nearly a quarter

Similar to 'almost a quarter', highlighting the slight difference from a full quarter.

approximately one-fourth

Uses a more formal and precise fraction to convey the proportion.

close to 25 percent

Expresses the proportion as a percentage, providing a numerical approximation.

just under a quarter

Indicates that the amount is slightly less than a quarter.

in the neighborhood of 25%

Expresses the proportion with less precision but with close meaning to "virtually a quarter".

around a quarter

Implies an estimated proportion centering on one quarter.

something like a quarter

Suggests an informal and approximate estimation of the amount.

a shade under a quarter

Highlights that the proportion is just a little less than a quarter.

nearing a quarter

Focuses on the ongoing progress towards a quarter, without necessarily having reached it.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually a quarter" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually a quarter" to describe a proportion that's close to, but not exactly, 25%. For example, "Virtually a quarter of the participants dropped out of the study after the first week".

What can I say instead of "virtually a quarter"?

You can use alternatives like "almost a quarter", "nearly a quarter", or "approximately one-fourth" depending on the context and level of formality you're aiming for.

Is it appropriate to use "virtually a quarter" in formal writing?

While "virtually a quarter" is generally acceptable, in formal contexts it may be preferable to use more precise language such as "approximately 25%" or "close to one-fourth" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "almost a quarter" and "virtually a quarter"?

Both phrases imply a value close to 25%, but "almost a quarter" suggests a slightly greater emphasis on being just shy of a full quarter. "Virtually a quarter" can be seen as slightly more general and interchangeable with "approximately a quarter".