virtually everyone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually everyone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a large majority of a particular group or set of people. For example: "Virtually everyone in Attendance at the meeting was in favor of the plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now virtually everyone does.

The Economist

It happens to virtually everyone.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Virtually everyone stereotypes," he said.

The New York Times

Virtually everyone seemed to be wearing Oakleys.

Independent

Virtually everyone does every week.

The Guardian

Virtually everyone else had, but not Eric.

Independent

"Virtually everyone detests going to fund-raisers, virtually everyone detests raising all this money".

The New York Times

Virtually everyone agrees that the traditional evaluation system was terrible.

The New York Times

Virtually everyone liked the Celtics' chances in the series.

The New York Times - Sports

And so it leaves virtually everyone open to retribution".

The New York Times

Virtually everyone agrees that genuinely disabled people deserve taxpayers' help.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "virtually everyone" with more precise quantifiers when the exact percentage is known to enhance accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually everyone" when referring to subgroups or populations that are not truly representative of the larger group. Doing so can lead to overgeneralizations and inaccuracies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually everyone" functions as a quantifier, specifying that almost all members of a group share a particular characteristic, action, or belief. As Ludwig examples show, it highlights near-universal agreement or participation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually everyone" is a widely used quantifier signifying near-universal inclusion within a group. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly news, media, and scientific discussions. While its register is generally neutral, users should be mindful of its accuracy and avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives like "almost everyone" or "nearly everyone" offer similar meanings but can be more appropriate in specific contexts. Remember to ensure the context justifies the strong claim of near-universal inclusion when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everyone

Uses 'almost' instead of 'virtually', slightly decreasing the degree of inclusivity.

nearly everyone

Replaces 'virtually' with 'nearly', resulting in a negligible semantic change.

practically everyone

Substitutes 'virtually' with 'practically', implying a high degree of inclusion with a slight emphasis on practical terms.

just about everyone

Emphasizes the broad scope of inclusion, making it sound slightly more informal.

the vast majority

Shifts focus to a large proportion rather than individual inclusion, reducing the sense of each person being included.

almost all people

Rephrases to focus on 'people' directly, slightly altering the nuance.

the great bulk of people

Uses 'great bulk' to indicate a large mass of people, changing the descriptive approach.

in essence, everyone

Adds a qualifier 'in essence', suggesting an interpretive or summarized view.

for all intents and purposes, everyone

Emphasizes that the statement is true in almost every practical way.

by and large, everyone

Implies a general observation that may have minor exceptions.

FAQs

What does "virtually everyone" mean?

The phrase "virtually everyone" means almost everyone, or nearly all people, within a specified group or context. It suggests a very high degree of inclusion, though not absolute universality.

How accurate is the phrase "virtually everyone"?

The accuracy of "virtually everyone" depends on the context. While it implies a high degree of inclusion, it's crucial to ensure the statement is not an overgeneralization. Alternatives like "almost everyone" or "nearly everyone" might be more suitable if there are significant exceptions.

When is it appropriate to use "virtually everyone" in writing?

Use "virtually everyone" when you want to convey that a belief, action, or characteristic is common to nearly all members of a group. Ensure there's a reasonable basis for this claim and that you're not excluding a significant minority. Avoid using it if you can be more precise with numbers or more accurate with a less inclusive term.

What are some alternatives to "virtually everyone"?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, alternatives to "virtually everyone" include "almost everyone", "nearly everyone", "practically everyone", or "the vast majority". Choose the alternative that best fits the context and your intended meaning.