virtually evenly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually evenly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is almost evenly distributed or balanced, but not perfectly so. Example: "The resources were virtually evenly allocated among the different departments, ensuring that each had what it needed to function effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Clackamas, a collection of suburbs, exurbs and rural towns whose economy is tied to the production of metals, machinery and computer hardware and software, as well as to retail, is virtually evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

The New York Times

And since the State Legislature is virtually evenly divided -- the House has 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans, and Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the Senate -- nothing much ever gets accomplished.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Both campaigns are likely to spend more money per voter in Missouri than in virtually any other state.The reason is that the state is one of the most evenly divided in the country.

The Economist

Independents are almost evenly split.

Huffington Post

Independents divided almost evenly.

Los Angeles Times

SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) are now the genetic markers of choice since they are a virtually unlimited, evenly distributed along the genome, bi-allelic and co-dominant resource.

BMC Genomics

"Vivaldi said he could compose faster than a copyist could copy," Ms. Orlando said, turning autograph pages with unprotected hands to reveal swift, fluent strokes that ripple evenly across the staffs, virtually uninterrupted by strike-outs or corrections.

The New York Times - Arts

However, very few White women live on reservations, and only a negligible proportion of AI women were evaluated in the regionally-matched urban clinic, making the selection of samples evenly distributed between race and region virtually impossible.

BMC Infectious Diseases

IEs are not evenly distributed in the genome and are virtually absent from low-GC% areas, such as the AT-rich fraction of the BOC (fig. 2 A).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Though both Metalloninvest and Rusal are private companies, making it virtually impossible to assess their precise values, close analysis suggests the companies aren't evenly matched either.

Forbes

If an AI is used, the Panel was virtually unanimous that it should start up front in patients at higher risk, while the Panel was evenly divided on whether it should be used up front in all patients.

Annals of Oncology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually evenly" to describe distributions or divisions that are not perfectly equal but close enough that the difference is negligible for practical purposes.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually evenly" when describing situations where the distribution is significantly skewed or unequal. Using the phrase in such cases can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually evenly" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically describing the extent to which something is distributed or divided in a balanced or equal manner. Ludwig's examples illustrate how it modifies verbs, adjectives, or even entire clauses to convey near-perfect balance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually evenly" is used to describe a state of near-perfect balance or distribution, acknowledging that absolute equality may not be present. Ludwig indicates that this adverbial modifier is grammatically correct and finds use in both News & Media and scientific contexts. Although not overly common, its meaning is clear and its use is generally appropriate. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is essential to ensure you do not overstate the precision of a distribution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost equally

Emphasizes the near equality of the distribution.

practically balanced

Highlights the balance achieved, albeit not perfectly.

nearly uniform

Focuses on the similarity across a distribution.

effectively equal

Stresses the functional equivalence of the elements.

substantially the same

Indicates a high degree of similarity.

roughly balanced

Indicates that it's only a rough balance and does not need to be precise.

virtually indistinguishable

Highlights the difficulty in differentiating between elements.

comparatively alike

Focuses on the similarities between elements.

tantamount to equal

Means equivalent or virtually equal.

close to parity

Expresses a condition of near equivalence or balance.

FAQs

What does "virtually evenly" mean?

The phrase "virtually evenly" means that something is almost, but not quite, evenly distributed or divided. It implies a high degree of balance or equality, but acknowledges that a perfect balance might not exist.

Are "almost evenly" and "virtually evenly" interchangeable?

Yes, in many contexts, "almost evenly" and "virtually evenly" can be used interchangeably. Both suggest a near-perfect balance or distribution. However, "virtually evenly" might imply an even higher degree of closeness to perfect balance.

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

You can use "virtually evenly" to describe how resources are distributed, how opinions are divided, or how efforts are spread out. For example: "The workload was virtually evenly distributed among the team members."

What is a more formal alternative to "virtually evenly"?

A more formal alternative to "virtually evenly" could be "nearly equitable" or "substantially balanced", depending on the specific context.