virtually everyone else

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually everyone else" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to almost all other people in a given context, indicating that only a few exceptions exist. Example: "While a few individuals disagreed with the decision, virtually everyone else supported it wholeheartedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Virtually everyone else had, but not Eric.

Independent

So did virtually everyone else at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

Abed, like virtually everyone else at Moria, was waiting.

The New Yorker

"And Kathryn" — virtually everyone else calls her Kat — "knew nothing about selling beef".

The New York Times

The league, like virtually everyone else, was surprised by Tagliabue's decision.

The New York Times - Sports

He noted that virtually everyone else had a hamburger or a hot dog.

The New York Times - Style

Like virtually everyone else watching, he desperately hoped that she would quickly recover.

The New York Times - Sports

Virtually everyone else, Senator Pingree said, has insurance policies with drug benefits.

The New York Times

It's one of the best films of his career, he feels, as does virtually everyone else involved.

The Guardian - Film

G.M. added power operation to one door, and virtually everyone else rushed to offer power on two.

The New York Times

During the half-hour interview, he accused virtually everyone else involved in the case of either being confused or lying.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the nuance of "virtually". While it implies near totality, it acknowledges the possibility of exceptions. Choose this phrase when complete universality isn't guaranteed, but the exceptions are minimal.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually everyone else" when there are significant exceptions or dissenting opinions. Overstating the level of agreement can weaken your argument and damage your credibility. Check if "most people" would be more adequate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually everyone else" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a group within a given context. It indicates a majority or near-totality, implying that a statement or condition applies to nearly all members of that group except for a specified individual or subset. Ludwig shows numerous examples supporting this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually everyone else" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that almost all members of a group share a particular characteristic, opinion, or experience. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While similar phrases like "almost everyone else" or "nearly everyone else" exist, "virtually everyone else" provides a nuanced way to generalize without claiming absolute universality. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the group you are referencing and avoid overstating the level of agreement if significant exceptions exist. Ludwig shows that authoritative sources frequently employ the phrase, solidifying its legitimacy and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everybody else

Replaces 'everyone' with 'everybody', offering a more conversational tone, and 'virtually' with 'almost', which softens the assertion slightly.

practically everyone else

Substitutes 'virtually' with 'practically', maintaining the sense of near-totality.

nearly all others

Emphasizes the completeness of the group being referenced, using 'nearly all' instead of 'virtually everyone'.

the vast majority of others

Replaces 'virtually everyone' with a more formal expression indicating a large majority.

the overwhelming majority

Highlights the strength of the majority, suitable for more formal or emphatic contexts.

almost without exception

Focuses on the lack of exceptions to a general statement, rather than directly referencing people.

for the most part, everyone else

Introduces a qualification ('for the most part') to acknowledge possible exceptions more explicitly.

with few exceptions, everyone else

Explicitly states the presence of a few exceptions, adding a layer of precision.

the great bulk of others

Uses 'great bulk' as a more descriptive and slightly less common way to indicate a large majority.

almost to a person

Implies unanimous or near-unanimous agreement or action, with a more figurative tone.

FAQs

What does "virtually everyone else" mean?

The phrase "virtually everyone else" means almost everyone else, implying that nearly all other people within a specific context or group are included, with only a few exceptions.

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

Use "virtually everyone else" when you want to indicate that a statement applies to almost all members of a group, acknowledging that there might be a small number of exceptions. For example, "almost everyone agrees that climate change is a serious problem".

What are some alternatives to "virtually everyone else"?

Some alternatives to "virtually everyone else" include "almost everyone else", "nearly everyone else", or "practically everyone else". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality desired.

Is there a difference between "virtually everyone else" and "literally everyone else"?

Yes. "Literally everyone else" means absolutely everyone else without exception, which is often an exaggeration. "Virtually everyone else" means almost everyone else, acknowledging that a few exceptions may exist. Therefore "nearly everyone else" is a less strong statement.