virtually all of them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually all of them" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that almost every member of a group is included, with a slight allowance for exceptions. Example: "After the survey, it was found that virtually all of them preferred the new design over the old one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Virtually all of them quit.

The New Yorker

Virtually all of them have fled.

The New York Times

virtually all of them are of people.

The Guardian - Books

Virtually all of them tightened immigration access.

The Guardian - Opinion

Young players, virtually all of them do".

The New York Times - Sports

Virtually all of them have been traced to northern Germany.

The New York Times

(Tobacco is more addictive than virtually all of them).

The Economist

Virtually all of them disappeared in the dot-com bust.

The New York Times

Virtually all of them advocate careful, sensible gun controls.

The New York Times

Instead, virtually all of them are computer scientists.

The New York Times - Magazine

ESA aims to ensure that virtually all of them work.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the subtle difference between "virtually all" and "almost all"; "virtually" suggests a higher degree of completeness while still allowing for exceptions.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually all of them" when the statement is not demonstrably true, as it can create an impression of factual inaccuracy. Prefer more precise alternatives like "most of them" if the situation demands it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually all of them" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun or pronoun to express a quantity that is very close to the entirety of the group. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, emphasizing near-complete inclusion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually all of them" is a grammatically correct and frequently used quantifier that indicates near-complete inclusion while allowing for minor exceptions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a versatile expression suitable for various contexts, but predominantly appears in News & Media. It's essential to use this phrase accurately, ensuring that the context warrants the implication of near-totality. While alternatives like "almost all of them" and "nearly all of them" exist, "virtually all of them" often carries a slightly stronger emphasis on completeness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost all of them

Replaces "virtually" with "almost", slightly reducing the emphasis on the possibility of exceptions.

nearly all of them

Uses "nearly" instead of "virtually", conveying a similar degree of approximation.

practically all of them

Substitutes "virtually" with "practically", suggesting a focus on real-world situations.

in effect all of them

Emphasizes the result or consequence of all members being included.

essentially all of them

Highlights the fundamental or core aspect of all elements being included.

for the most part, all of them

Adds a qualifier to indicate a general trend with potential individual variations.

almost without exception, all of them

Explicitly states the rarity of exceptions to the inclusion of all members.

with very few exceptions, all of them

Directly acknowledges the existence of a minimal number of exceptions.

the great majority of them

Replaces the original with a phrase focusing on the concept of majority.

the overwhelming majority of them

Highlights a bigger difference in number between the included and the excluded.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually all of them" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually all of them" to indicate that nearly every member of a group shares a certain characteristic or action. For example, "After the workshop, virtually all of them expressed positive feedback."

What phrases are similar to "virtually all of them"?

Alternatives include "almost all of them", "nearly all of them", and "practically all of them". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "almost all of them" and "virtually all of them"?

While similar, "virtually all of them" often implies an even smaller margin of exception than "almost all of them". "Virtually" can suggest that any exceptions are negligible or practically nonexistent in the context.

When is it inappropriate to use "virtually all of them"?

Avoid using "virtually all of them" if you lack sufficient evidence to support the claim or if the actual proportion is significantly less than 'virtually all'. In such cases, use a more conservative phrase like "most of them" or "a majority of them".