virtually adjacent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually adjacent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two things that are very close to each other, though not necessarily touching. Example: "The two buildings are virtually adjacent, separated only by a narrow alley."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is also easily accessible from nearby São José dos Campos, to which it is virtually adjacent.

Britannica

The railway station now sits virtually adjacent to the new and very modern library, a placement that blends old and new Amsterdam.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The land on which the Tuscany House -- sand-colored with Northern Italian accents -- was built on virtually untouched land adjacent to the winery and retained as a buffer from development.

The New York Times

The earlier phase (embryonic days 13-15; E13-E15) was characterized by CGRP, CC10, and SP-A immunostaining in all epithelial cells of the distal airways, with the three patterns being virtually identical in adjacent sections.

Duke University

The Ci protein was frequently accumulated in CSN5 or Nedd8 MARCM clones (Figure 7C, E), while it was virtually undetectable in adjacent non-mutant neurons.

Plosone

For example, non-native Lolium multiflorum (ryegrass; now Festuca perennis) that dominated a non-sodic matrix was virtually absent in adjacent alkali sinks, whereas native Hemizonia pungens ssp.

AoB PLANTS

Similar results were detected in CSN5-mutant neurons: the Kelch levels were elevated in cells that lack CSN5 and were virtually undetectable in the adjacent non-mutant (i.e. not labeled by presence of GFP) neurons (Figure 3C).

Plosone

In this paper, a novel high-order model is proposed to address this problem by virtually dividing the tubing into adjacent segments, which are connected by virtual channels.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

Intron phases of adjacent exons were virtually conserved in these differently classed genes irrespective of how introns were lost or gained within the 14-exon structure.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Previous cDNA microarray analysis demonstrated that, although colXI α1 was present in tumour tissue from all nine HNSCC tumours examined, it was virtually undetectable in corresponding normal adjacent tissue (Sok et al, 2003).

British Journal of Cancer

Further expansion of Rockefeller Center is virtually precluded by the unavailability of adjacent land, most of which has been taken up by large projects inspired by the center's enduring success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually adjacent" to clearly convey that two things are extremely close, but not necessarily touching. This is useful when describing locations, concepts, or states.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually adjacent" when you mean "actually adjacent" or "touching". "Virtually" implies a very close proximity, but not physical contact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually adjacent" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the degree of adjacency. Ludwig shows that it typically modifies nouns, indicating a high level of proximity without direct contact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually adjacent" is a grammatically sound and useful expression that indicates a high degree of proximity, though not necessarily physical contact. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase appears in diverse contexts, including news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. While not extremely common, it effectively communicates spatial relationships with a nuance that distinguishes it from simply "adjacent". When precision matters in describing nearness, "virtually adjacent" serves as a valuable tool in your linguistic toolkit. It is an adverbial modifier describing the degree of adjacency. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly adjacent

Replaces "virtually" with "nearly", indicating a slight degree of difference in proximity.

almost adjacent

Substitutes "virtually" with "almost", suggesting a slightly lesser degree of closeness.

practically adjacent

Uses "practically" instead of "virtually", conveying a sense of adjacency that is very close to being absolute.

in close proximity

Replaces the single word adjective "adjacent" with a synonymous phrase that suggests the same meaning.

in immediate proximity

Like "in close proximity", but adding the adjective immediate specifies the short distance.

essentially next to

Uses "essentially" to emphasize the near adjacency and "next to" as a more common term.

almost touching

Focuses on the idea of closeness that is borderline physical touching.

very near to

Uses a simpler phrasing to convey the idea of being close by.

in the vicinity of

Indicates that something is located in the general area of something else.

bordering on

Suggests adjacency to the point of sharing a border or boundary.

FAQs

What does "virtually adjacent" mean?

"Virtually adjacent" means that two things are very close to each other, almost touching, but not quite. It suggests a high degree of proximity.

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

You can use "virtually adjacent" to describe locations, objects, or even abstract concepts. For example, "The two buildings are "nearly adjacent", separated only by a small alleyway."

What are some alternatives to "virtually adjacent"?

Alternatives to "virtually adjacent" include "almost adjacent", "nearly adjacent", or "in close proximity". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "virtually adjacent"?

Yes, "virtually adjacent" is a correct and usable phrase in English. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and highlights its use in various reliable sources.