virtually as many

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually as many" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that the number of items or instances is nearly equal to another number, but not exactly the same. Example: "In the last decade, virtually as many people have adopted electric vehicles as traditional gasoline cars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Yankees, who lead the majors in stolen bases with 50, have been caught virtually as many times (15) as the Red Sox have tried to steal.

The New York Times - Sports

The Labor Party came to have virtually as many middle-class professionals among its leaders as did the Liberals, and at least when in office gave scarcely less priority to running the economy according to the dictates of economic rationalism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are virtually as many definitions of art and explanations of its purpose as there are works of art.

Huffington Post

Few in America's political establishment believed Clinton would lose Iowa, and even fewer believed Bernie Sanders would win virtually as many delegates as a former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Officials said they were virtually making as many calls to the National Weather Service as they were to the legion of political allies and lawmakers gathered here.

The New York Times

By contrast, P.S. 1 spent $8,255 per child, virtually every penny in the classroom, and only about half as many passed the same tests.

The New York Times

As a bank teeters, the F.D.I.C. swoops in virtually overnight and shifts as many good loans and deposits as possible to a healthy bank.

The New York Times

Virtually every career employee — as many as 97percentt in one recent year — applies for and gets disability payments soon after retirement, a computer analysis of federal records by The New York Times has found.

The New York Times

Virtually all career L.I.R.R. employees — as many as 97percentt in one year — get federal disability payments from the federal Railroad Retirement Board after they retire, The New York Times reported last month.

The New York Times

According to Educause, a company leading the IT industry in Higher Education, MOOCC is a model for delivering learning content online to virtually any person -- and as many of them -- who wants to take the course.

Huffington Post

In contrast to this proposal, our phylogenomics analyses have identified 31 proteins that are uniquely present in virtually all methanogens, as well as many proteins that are specifically shared by different subgroups of methanogens.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually as many" to convey that two quantities are almost equal, but with a minor difference that does not significantly impact the overall meaning. It adds a nuanced level of precision compared to saying 'almost equal'.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually as many" when there's a significant difference between the quantities being compared. It's meant to highlight near equivalence, not simply similarity. Misusing the phrase diminishes its impact and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually as many" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a quantity that is close to another. Ludwig AI shows examples where it clarifies the degree of approximation, suggesting near equivalence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually as many" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that two quantities are nearly equal, but not exactly the same. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts and commonly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing. While not as frequent as other similar phrases like ""almost as many"", it offers a nuanced way to express near equivalence without implying absolute equality. When writing, be mindful of using it to convey near equivalence rather than simple similarity to maintain precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as many

Emphasizes a slight difference, suggesting the number is a little less but very close.

nearly as many

Similar to 'almost', implying a small difference exists.

practically as many

Highlights the equivalence from a practical standpoint, even if not exact.

just about as many

Indicates the quantity is very close but not perfectly equal.

roughly as many

Suggests an approximate quantity, less precise than "virtually".

close to the same number

Rephrases the idea using "number" instead of "many", adding more formality and using a noun.

essentially the same amount

Focuses on the 'amount' and emphasizes the absence of a practically significant difference.

in effect, the same quantity

More formal and emphasizes the effective equivalence despite any numerical difference.

for all intents and purposes, equal

A more verbose and formal expression suggesting that the difference is negligible in practical terms.

tantamount to the same count

A highly formal option, 'tantamount' indicates functional equivalence.

FAQs

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

Use "virtually as many" to indicate that two quantities are nearly equal but not exactly the same. For example, "This year, we received "almost as many" applications as last year."

What phrases are similar to "virtually as many"?

Similar phrases include "nearly as many", "almost as many", or "practically as many". The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "virtually the same as many"?

While "virtually the same" is a common phrase, it's more accurate to use "virtually as many" when comparing quantities. "Virtually the same" is better suited for describing qualities or characteristics.

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

"As many" indicates an equal number, while "virtually as many" indicates a number that is very close to equal but not precisely the same. The "virtually" adds a slight qualification.