virtually all people

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually all people" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that nearly everyone is included, with a slight allowance for exceptions. Example: "In surveys about climate change, virtually all people expressed concern about its impact on future generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Various

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Virtually all people with hemophilia are men.

The New York Times - Health

"Virtually all people do get a gut problem sometime.

The Guardian

Virtually all people over 50 will have abnormalities on such tests, and most back pain gets better without surgery.

The New York Times

Ideally, virtually all people known to be infected should get drug treatments immediately, in a single pill, no matter what their CD4 counts.

The New York Times

"It's the conviction of virtually all people that children of that age are incapable of serious sin," McCormick said.

The New York Times

Virtually all people in Columbus who believe global warming is happening say that if the same actions were taken by most people in the U.S. (94%) or around the world (95%), it would reduce global warming a little, some, or a lot.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Their hatred for each other has also metastasized into a generalized alienation from virtually all the people in their orbit.

The New York Times

Virtually all the people of Afghanistan are Muslims, of whom some three-fourths are Sunnites of the Ḥanafī branch.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Virtually all the people who work for MTV can see MTV from their desks during the day.

The New Yorker

Virtually all the people we see, male and female, insist that they love the ones they torment.

The New Yorker

The suit asserted that the newspaper had violated Federal fair housing laws because virtually all the people shown in real-estate advertisements were white.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "virtually all people", consider the context to ensure that the slight allowance for exceptions is appropriate and does not mislead the reader. Be aware of possible over generalization.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually all people" when the statement truly applies to everyone without exception. In such cases, "all people" is more accurate and avoids unnecessary qualification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually all people" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a near-universal quantity of individuals. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually all people" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote a large majority while acknowledging potential exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. While alternatives like "almost everyone" and "nearly everyone" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and nuance. When using "virtually all people", it's crucial to avoid overgeneralization and ensure that the context allows for the implied exceptions. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Science sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everyone

Replaces "virtually all people" with a more direct and common expression, softening the emphasis on near-completeness.

nearly everyone

Similar to "almost everyone", this phrase is a straightforward substitute with a slightly different nuance of approximation.

practically all individuals

This alternative uses "practically" to convey a sense of reality and "individuals" for a more formal tone.

the vast majority of people

Emphasizes the largeness of the group, focusing on the majority aspect rather than the near-totality.

almost all individuals

A more formal version of "almost everyone", replacing "people" with "individuals" for added formality.

the great majority of people

Similar to "the vast majority", highlighting the size of the group but with a slightly less emphatic tone.

by and large, everyone

Introduces a qualification before asserting near-universal inclusion, softening the absoluteness of the statement.

for the most part, people

Similar to "by and large", indicating that the statement applies generally but not necessarily without exception.

in the main, people

Emphasizes that the statement is generally true, but allows for exceptions to the rule.

the overwhelming number of people

Highlights the numerical dominance of the group in question, focusing on quantity over near-completeness.

FAQs

What does "virtually all people" mean?

The phrase "virtually all people" means almost everyone, with the understanding that there might be a few exceptions. It implies a very high percentage, close to 100%, but not absolute universality.

Is it better to use "virtually all people" or "almost all people"?

Both phrases are acceptable and very close in meaning. "Almost all people" might be perceived as slightly more direct and less formal than "virtually all people", but the choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

What can I say instead of "virtually all people"?

You can use alternatives like "almost everyone", "nearly everyone", or "the vast majority of people" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can "virtually all people" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "virtually all people" is suitable for formal writing. While it's less direct than "all people", the "virtually" adds a nuance to say almost/near. More formal alternatives, such as "practically all individuals", could also be considered.