virtually every

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually every" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that a large majority of something is true. For example: "Virtually every student in the class was able to answer the question correctly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Virtually every agent disappeared.

The New Yorker

Virtually every shot is on.

Independent

Virtually every tree got levelled.

The Economist

It's in virtually every African country.

Independent

Revenue fell from virtually every source.

The New York Times

It happens in baseball virtually every season.

The New York Times - Sports

"Virtually every house has been burned down.

The New York Times

His name appears in virtually every deposition.

The New Yorker

Virtually every other problem then goes away".

Independent

Police stood on virtually every street corner.

The New Yorker

That was above virtually every forecast.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually every" to convey that something is true in almost all cases, but acknowledge that exceptions might exist. It's stronger than 'most' but softer than 'all'.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually every" when you actually mean "every". Overstating can undermine your credibility if exceptions are easily found.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually every" functions as a determiner, modifying a noun to indicate that nearly all members of a group or instances of something are included. It qualifies the noun, suggesting a high degree of prevalence as shown in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually every" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something is true in almost all cases. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While "virtually every" implies a high degree of prevalence, remember that exceptions may exist, and overstating absolutes should be avoided. Alternatives like "almost every" or "nearly every" can be used to convey similar meanings. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can effectively use "virtually every" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost every

Emphasizes nearness to totality, focusing on the small number of exceptions.

nearly every

Similar to 'almost every', but can also imply a statistical approximation.

practically every

Highlights the practicality of the statement being generally true, despite potential exceptions.

just about every

More colloquial and emphasizes the commonness or frequency.

in almost all

Focuses on the high proportion rather than individual instances.

for all intents and purposes every

Indicates that the statement is true in effect, though perhaps not in strict definition.

with few exceptions every

Explicitly acknowledges the existence of exceptions, but downplays their significance.

by and large every

Indicates that the statement holds true in general, even if there are some deviations.

the vast majority of

Emphasizes the large quantity or proportion, suitable for countable nouns.

all but every

Highlights that the statement is correct in nearly every instance and that very few exceptions occur

FAQs

How do I use "virtually every" in a sentence?

Use "virtually every" before a noun to indicate that almost all members of a group or instances of something are included. For instance, "virtually every student passed the exam" means that almost all students passed, but possibly not all.

What's the difference between "virtually every" and "almost every"?

Both "virtually every" and "almost every" indicate near totality. "Virtually every" might imply a slight qualification or reservation, while "almost every" focuses more on the closeness to being complete.

What can I say instead of "virtually every"?

You can use alternatives like "almost every", "nearly every", or "practically every" depending on the context. These alternatives all suggest a high degree of prevalence.

Is it correct to use "virtually every" if there are known exceptions?

Yes, "virtually every" is appropriate even with known exceptions, as it implies 'almost all' rather than 'all'. If you want to emphasize the exceptions, consider using phrases like "with few exceptions every".