virtually equivalent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually equivalent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two things are almost the same or have very similar characteristics, though not exactly identical. Example: "In terms of functionality, the two software programs are virtually equivalent, making it difficult to choose between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

A bit rate of 128 or higher is, for most listeners, virtually equivalent to audio CD quality.

The New York Times - Tech

WASHINGTON — Democrats are again stepping up their effort to elevate Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio into a symbol of the Republican Party virtually equivalent to the elephant.

The New York Times

Observance of the Sabbath a peculiarly public feature of communal life achieved a significance among the exiles virtually equivalent to all the rest of the covenant rules together.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The key ideas of these Christological and Trinitarian debates and their conclusions were based upon the Greek concepts of ousia (nature or essence) and hypostasis (entity, used as virtually equivalent to prosōpon, person).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thus clause (i) is virtually equivalent to V1.

SEP

This is virtually equivalent to adopting an "infinite" label space.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

At today's below-inflation yields, opting for cash is virtually the equivalent of burying it in your backyard.

Huffington Post

Nurses could organise urine testing or swabbing, they are very unlikely to want to organise swabbing because that requires the skills necessary for doing virtually the equivalent of a Pap smear and some nurses are comfortable with that and some are not.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Even more to the point, reducing the dose of DZN to 0.5 mg/kg produced virtually an equivalent effect on AChE isoform expression, despite the fact that there is no inhibition of catalytic activity whatsoever at the lower dose (Slotkin et al. 2006b).

Environmental Health Perspectives

According to Griffith, the making of Whitney Houston was virtually the pop equivalent of a De Mille extravaganza – epic and expensive.

The Guardian - Music

"When I convey my views to the vice president, it's equivalent virtually to the president," said Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually equivalent" when you want to express that two things are so similar that the differences are negligible for practical purposes. It's suitable for technical, scientific, and everyday contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually equivalent" when the differences between the two things being compared are significant or impactful. Overstating their similarity can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually equivalent" typically functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that something is almost the same as something else, close enough that any difference is insignificant. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

72%

News & Media

16%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually equivalent" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to express a high degree of similarity between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The analysis reveals that it is most frequently encountered in scientific contexts, followed by news and media. When writing, remember to reserve the phrase for situations where differences are truly negligible for practical purposes. Alternatives such as "almost the same" or "nearly identical" can be used to fine-tune the nuance. Keep in mind that the authoritative sources that use the phrase include The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

functionally equivalent

Highlights the equivalence in terms of purpose or operation.

effectively the same

Stresses the practical outcome of the equivalence.

nearly identical

Emphasizes the high degree of similarity, approaching complete identity.

almost the same

Indicates a slight difference in the degree of similarity compared to "virtually equivalent".

practically equal

Focuses on the functional equivalence despite potential minor differences.

tantamount to

Implies an equal effect or value, often in a legal or abstract sense.

roughly equivalent

Indicates an approximate degree of equivalence, leaving room for some variation.

for all intents and purposes the same

Suggests equivalence in practical terms despite any technical differences.

as good as

Informal expression indicating an acceptable level of equivalence.

comparable to

Indicates that the things being compared share many qualities or characteristics.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually equivalent" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually equivalent" to describe two things that are almost the same in effect or function. For example, "The two treatment options are "virtually equivalent" in terms of patient outcomes".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "virtually equivalent"?

Some alternatives include "almost the same", "nearly identical", and "functionally equivalent". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "virtually equivalent" or "exactly the same"?

"Exactly the same" implies complete identity, while "virtually equivalent" suggests a high degree of similarity with minor, often negligible, differences. Use "exactly the same" when there are no differences and "virtually equivalent" when differences exist but are unimportant.

What's the difference between "virtually equivalent" and "roughly equivalent"?

"Virtually equivalent" indicates a very high degree of similarity, bordering on identical. "Roughly equivalent", on the other hand, suggests a more approximate comparison with potentially more significant differences. Therefore, "roughly equivalent" implies less precision than "virtually equivalent".