virtually as good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually as good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is nearly as good as something else, often in a comparative context. Example: "The new model is virtually as good as the previous version, offering similar features and performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

A USB jack slides out of the camera to transfer the video to a personal computer for easy editing and playback.Thanks to their MPEG-4 video compression, Flip-like devices produce movies virtually as good as bigger camcorders costing hundreds of dollars more but using the less efficient MPEG-2 algorithm.

The Economist

As a result of the Fan/Fred backstop, these securities are virtually as good as the Treasury's, but they're still yielding about 200 basis points (2%) higher.

Forbes

For an effect size of half-a-standard deviation, Fig.  2 shows that the straightforward t test is greatly inferior to the more appropriate nonparametric Wilcoxon two-sample test, and that the latter is virtually as good as a test that takes full account of the log-normal distribution (t test on logarithms of the values).

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the rich alluvial soils, his mature coca plants could be harvested every 40 days, virtually year-round, almost as good as a monthly paycheck.

The Washington Post

Almost as good, a classic pairing of duck with fruit brought a virtually fatless breast drizzled with raspberry sauce.

The New York Times

It also explains why virtually everyone thinks his, or her, "guess" is as good as anyone else's when marketing decisions need to be made.

HuffPost

At their best, which is virtually all the time, Paulito and his group are as good as any dance band working anywhere.

The New York Times - Arts

Virtually Incorrectly used to mean "nearly all"; eg: "Virtually all the chocolates were eaten". "Virtually" is useful for an imprecise description that is more or less right, close enough, as good as.

The Guardian

Other results observed include Sudden changes in speed due to poor track conditions and vibrations are virtually eliminated or non-existent as the state of poor track conditions were set as good.

Urban Rail Transit

Consumers rating current conditions as good fell to 16.6percentt in August from 20.2percentt in July, while those seeing conditions as bad was virtually unchanged at 22.3percentt in August from 22.1percentt in July, the Conference Board said.

The New York Times

"I don't see them as good policy," said State Senator Greg Brophy, a conservative from the state's eastern plains, who worries that the proposals would make it virtually impossible to balance the budget.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually as good" when you want to convey a nuanced comparison, acknowledging minor differences while emphasizing overall similarity in quality or effectiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually as good" if there are significant differences between the items being compared. Overstating their similarity can mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually as good" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by expressing a level of quality or effectiveness that is close to, but not exactly the same as, something else. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually as good" serves as a comparative adjective phrase used to indicate near equivalence in quality or effectiveness. Ludwig AI indicates its grammatical correctness. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears in contexts ranging from News & Media to Scientific publications. The phrase implies a high degree of similarity while acknowledging a slight difference. Alternatives like "almost as effective" or "nearly equivalent" offer similar shades of meaning. When employing "virtually as good", ensure that the comparative benchmark is evident and that the slight difference it implies is contextually appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as effective

Emphasizes the similarity in effectiveness rather than overall quality.

practically identical

Focuses on the near identical nature of the comparison.

nearly equivalent

Highlights the equivalence in value or function.

tantamount to

Indicates that the two things being compared are essentially the same in effect or value.

as good as

Slightly stronger and more direct comparison.

effectively the same

Highlights the effective sameness of the two items.

much the same

Indicates a high degree of similarity but leaves room for minor differences.

comparable to

Focuses on the ability to compare the items, implying similarity.

akin to

Suggests a similarity in nature or qualities.

similarly effective

Focuses solely on effectiveness and its similarity.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually as good" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually as good" to compare two things, indicating they are nearly equal in quality or effectiveness. For example, "This new software is "virtually as good" as the leading competitor's product".

What's the difference between "virtually as good" and "as good as"?

"Virtually as good" implies a slight difference or reservation, while "as good as" suggests they are completely equal. The choice depends on whether you want to acknowledge minor distinctions.

What are some alternatives to "virtually as good"?

Alternatives include "almost as good", "nearly equivalent", or "practically identical", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "virtually as good" in formal writing?

Yes, "virtually as good" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to make a comparison that acknowledges near equivalence with minor differences. However, ensure the context clearly supports the comparison.