virtually at once

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually at once" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens almost immediately or very quickly after another event. Example: "The announcement was made, and virtually at once, the crowd erupted in applause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Instead, the intervening accumulation of atmospheric carbon could cause temperatures to zoom calamitously, virtually at once.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

To this councilman of 24 years, it makes no sense to toss out virtually the entire municipal government at once.

The New York Times

Reform often costs money in the short run.Yet with all these caveats, the new government's vision of a looser state, and its determination to reform virtually all the public services at once, is boldly outlined.

The Economist

At the worst point in the crisis, Britannia's monetary system virtually collapsed… Ever since Pong, at once goofy and mesmerizing, reached the mass market, back in the mid-seventies, electronic gaming has moved ahead at an improbable speed.

The New Yorker

Buying five cases of red wine at once is, however, virtually impossible, as I discovered before my Tehran wedding in 2005.

The New York Times - Magazine

Researchers hope drugs that stimulate multiple PPARs at once could affect virtually every heart and diabetes risk factor.

Forbes

After a number of very rotten years in the immediate post-Soviet period, when the struggling nascent state was wracked by several ethnic-cum-civil wars at once, deprived of virtually all power and reduced to a beggars' state, little Georgia now seems to be turning the corner.

Forbes

The Pres. has virtually disappeared from public view.... Sen. McGovern seems to be everywhere at once but his voice has not seemed to carry & be heard.

The New Yorker

Dr. King is holding the listening tour as several major changes occur all at once, in a way that has redefined the classroom experience virtually overnight.

The New York Times

Virtually, all genes with a published association with the disease of interest can be analysed at once using NGS technology.

Cardiovascular Research

At once.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually at once" to emphasize that something happens almost immediately after another event, creating a sense of urgency or rapid change. It's particularly effective when describing unexpected or dramatic shifts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "virtually at once" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler phrases like "immediately" or "right away" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually at once" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the timing of an action or event. It emphasizes that something happens almost immediately. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually at once" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to describe events occurring almost immediately after each other. While Ludwig indicates its correctness, it's more suitable for neutral to formal contexts like news and media, rather than casual conversation. Consider simpler alternatives like "immediately" or "right away" for informal settings. While it's not the most common phrase, it effectively conveys a sense of urgency and rapid succession, as exemplified in the provided examples and validated by Ludwig AI.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost immediately

This alternative replaces "virtually at once" with a more direct and common adverbial phrase indicating immediate action.

nearly simultaneously

This phrase uses "nearly" instead of "virtually" and "simultaneously" to emphasize the near-exact timing of events.

practically instantaneously

Replaces "virtually" with "practically" and "at once" with "instantaneously", highlighting the speed of the occurrence.

in rapid succession

This option focuses on the quick sequence of events rather than precise simultaneity.

almost concurrently

This alternative substitutes "virtually" for "almost" and "at once" for "concurrently", stressing the overlapping timing.

in quick order

Replaces "virtually at once" with an idiom that suggests speed and efficiency in the sequence of events.

close upon each other's heels

This idiomatic expression indicates that events followed each other very closely and rapidly.

on the heels of

This alternative indicates that something happens very soon after something else.

right after

This is a simpler, more informal way of saying that something happened immediately following something else.

shortly thereafter

This option uses more formal language to convey that an event happened soon after a previous one.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually at once" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually at once" to describe events that occur almost immediately after another. For example, "The news broke, and "virtually at once", the stock market reacted."

What's a simpler way to say "virtually at once"?

Alternatives to "virtually at once" include "almost immediately", "nearly simultaneously", or "right away" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "virtually at once" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "virtually at once" is suitable for formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize the speed and near-simultaneity of events. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Are there any contexts where "virtually at once" might not be the best choice?

In very informal settings or conversations, "virtually at once" might sound overly formal or stilted. In those cases, using phrases like "immediately" or "right away" would be more appropriate.