virtually equivalent to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually equivalent to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing two things that are almost the same or have very similar characteristics, but not exactly identical. Example: "In terms of functionality, this software is virtually equivalent to its more expensive counterpart."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 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

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

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Thus clause (i) is virtually equivalent to V1.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Microarray technology takes advantage of either of two types of chemical entities as the labelled target, RNA or DNA, considered to be virtually equivalent for the purpose of expression analysis.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

Both norgestimate and norelgestromin, virtually equivalent from metabolic and endocrine perspectives, have a low androgenicity due to their negligible binding affinities for the androgen receptor and for the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) [ 11, 12].

BMC Women's Health

The models are tested in a real world case and found to be accurate in reproducing all the desired statistical properties and virtually equivalent from an operational point of view.

Journal of Hydrology

We found that using the Tarone [ 23] correction to the Breslow-Day test had such small differences from BD that the two were virtually equivalent.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

In both groups, the clinical functionality is virtually equivalent (M&G 2.25 ± 0.62 and T 2.19 ± 0.90), and this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.62).

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually equivalent to" when you want to emphasize that two things are so similar that the differences are negligible for practical purposes.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually equivalent to" when there are significant differences between the two things being compared. Ensure the context justifies the assertion of near-equivalence, as readers may perceive even small deviations as meaningful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually equivalent to" functions as a qualifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating a state of near-equivalence or substantial similarity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts to express that things are almost the same.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually equivalent to" is a useful tool for expressing near-equivalence, indicating that two things are alike enough for practical purposes. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While alternatives such as "almost identical to" or "practically the same as" exist, "virtually equivalent to" offers a specific nuance of acknowledging potential differences while emphasizing functional similarity. It's important to avoid overstating equivalence and to ensure that the context supports the claim of near-identity. Predominantly used in scientific and news contexts, the phrase maintains a formal tone suitable for detailed comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost identical to

Emphasizes the near-identity of the subjects, focusing on their minimal differences.

practically the same as

Highlights the practical indistinguishability of the subjects in most contexts.

nearly identical to

Underscores the high degree of similarity, approaching but not reaching full identity.

indistinguishable from

Highlights the difficulty or impossibility of telling the subjects apart.

tantamount to

Suggests that the subjects are equal in effect or value, often in a more formal tone.

essentially equal to

Focuses on the core equivalence, dismissing minor differences as unimportant.

effectively equivalent to

Emphasizes the practical outcome of the equivalence, regardless of the underlying details.

for all intents and purposes equivalent to

Indicates that the subjects can be treated as the same, despite potential technical differences.

much the same as

Suggests a high degree of similarity, often in a more informal context.

comparable to

Highlights similarity suitable for comparison, though not necessarily exact equivalence.

FAQs

What does "virtually equivalent to" mean?

The phrase "virtually equivalent to" means that two things are so similar that any differences between them are insignificant for practical purposes. It implies near-equivalence without claiming exact identity.

When is it appropriate to use "virtually equivalent to" in a sentence?

Use "virtually equivalent to" when you want to convey that two options or items are almost the same in effect or outcome, even if they are not precisely identical. For example, "For most users, this software is "virtually equivalent to" the more expensive version".

What are some alternatives to "virtually equivalent to"?

Alternatives include "almost identical to", "practically the same as", or "tantamount to". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a subtle difference between "virtually equivalent to" and "equivalent to"?

Yes, "equivalent to" implies complete equality, while "virtually equivalent to" suggests near-equality, with only minor or negligible differences. Using "virtually" adds a degree of qualification or hedging.