virtually every year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually every year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs almost every year, with very few exceptions. Example: "The festival has been held virtually every year since its inception in 2000."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Virtually every year or two, love affairs develop between participants.

The New York Times - Arts

A British soldier has died on active duty in virtually every year since 1945.

The Economist

Before the river was reëngineered, it overflowed its banks virtually every year — sometimes more often.

The New Yorker

Theoretical criteria for health, then, would have to be set for virtually every year of life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The numbers choosing or forced into the rental sector fell virtually every year until then – but have risen virtually every year since.

The Guardian - Money

Virtually every year since then, the number of major crimes has steadily declined.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

One man who is there virtually every time, year after year, dominates.

The New York Times - Arts

"You don't go back to the base, or say, 'How could it be more efficient?' " Such rules, baked into government programs like education and health care and left virtually untouched every year, are at the heart of what Mr. Cuomo believes is a fundamental problem facing New York: spending that goes up inexorably with too little accountability for results.

The New York Times

We have experienced double-digit sales growth (a compound annual growth rate of approximately 12percentthroughoutour our 10 years in business and have enjoyed over 10percentt in sales growth for virtually every individual year of business.

Columbia University

A savage drought gripped large swaths of the Horn of Africa this year, as it has virtually every other year for the past decade.

The Guardian

Music is performed virtually every night year round, with top-caliber productions held at the Leipzig Opera House in Augustusplatz (www.oper-leipzig.de) and at the St .Nicholas Church.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To strengthen your statement, follow "virtually every year" with specific data or evidence showcasing the trend you're describing.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually every year" when the event occurs with significantly less frequency. If something happens only sporadically, choose a more accurate description such as "frequently" or "often".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually every year" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency of an event. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used, which means it is a good option for your writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

23%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually every year" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates something happens almost every year, with few exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media, academia, and science, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various contexts. While synonyms like "almost every year" and "nearly every year" offer similar meanings, remember to choose the most precise phrase for your specific context and avoid overstating the frequency of the event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost every year

Indicates a slightly less formal and more direct synonym for "virtually every year".

nearly every year

A close synonym, suggesting occurrences that happen very close to every year, allowing for minor exceptions.

practically every year

Emphasizes the regularity of the event, highlighting that it happens so often it's as good as every year.

in almost all years

Rephrases the original, focusing on the 'years' rather than the consistent action.

in the majority of years

Shifts the focus to a statistical majority, suitable when discussing trends over a specific period.

on an almost annual basis

More formal and highlights the regular, yearly schedule, even if there might be occasional deviations.

close to annually

A more concise way to express near-annual occurrences.

with few exceptions each year

Explains that the event happens yearly, noting that very few years differ.

year in, year out, mostly

Uses an idiomatic expression to show a recurring event, but acknowledges it's not always the case.

most years see

Simplifies the language, suggesting that most years experience a specific event or condition.

FAQs

What does "virtually every year" mean?

The phrase "virtually every year" means that something happens almost every year, with very few exceptions. It implies a high degree of regularity but allows for occasional deviations.

What can I say instead of "virtually every year"?

You can use alternatives like "almost every year", "nearly every year", or "practically every year" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "virtually every year"?

Yes, it is correct to say "virtually every year". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English. It indicates something happens almost every year, with very few exceptions.

How can I use "virtually every year" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually every year" to describe a recurring event. For example: "The town has a major flood virtually every year." or "The company releases a new product virtually every year."