virtually immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually immediately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that occurs almost instantaneously, but may imply a slight delay. Example: "The system will process your request virtually immediately, ensuring you receive the information you need without delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

That is expected to require United to begin cutting its labor costs "virtually immediately," according to a motion the company submitted to the bankruptcy court.

The New York Times

In the top tracing, there is an abrupt fall in esophageal pH, which is followed, virtually immediately, by an abrupt fall in pharyngeal pH.

Nature

"But working virtually immediately for a company that is bidding for work in an area where you were just setting the policy — that is too close.

The New York Times

In the time frame of the reconstruction, creating the World Trade Center sacred precinct could be done virtually immediately while freeing us to make other decisions about the site when they are needed.

The New York Times

They need to have an impact virtually immediately.

Forbes

The defence argues it was "improbable" that Tongo "virtually immediately" agreed to take part in a murder because he had "never been involved in any criminal activity".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Aside from the decrees, which were published almost immediately, virtually all the background materials -- records of the debates in the council, diaries, correspondence, etc. -- were inaccessible until 1880 when the Vatican archives were opened.

Huffington Post

Contact activation and endothelialization are known to be determined by the plasma proteins which adsorb onto virtually all synthetic surfaces almost immediately upon contact with blood.

Biomaterials

Virtually immortal family groups set out to explore the galaxy and almost immediately discover a solar system associated with a nearby star only 80 light years away from their home planet.

University of California, Berkeley

The press, pundits, bloggers, and virtually everyone else immediately took sides as if for a gladiatorial contest, all of them framing the situation in the same kind of "us vs. them" way.

Huffington Post

Because pharmacologic intervention can be initiated immediately in virtually any hospital, it is a promising initial step.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually immediately" to describe actions that happen with almost no delay, but where a negligible amount of time might still pass. For example, "The software update will be installed virtually immediately after you click 'Install'".

Common error

Avoid using "virtually immediately" when something happens truly instantaneously. The "virtually" suggests 'almost' or 'nearly', implying a slight difference from 'immediately'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually immediately" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the timing of an action. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes actions that happen almost instantaneously, implying a minimal delay.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually immediately" is an adverbial phrase used to describe actions that occur with near-instantaneous speed, implying a minimal delay. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While similar to "immediately", the "virtually" adds a nuance, suggesting something happens almost, but not entirely, without delay. Alternative phrases include "almost instantly" and "nearly immediately". It is important to avoid using "virtually immediately" when describing truly instantaneous events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost instantly

Emphasizes the speed with which something happens.

practically instantaneously

Highlights the near-instantaneous nature of an event.

near immediately

A slightly more formal way of expressing a similar concept.

in short order

Suggests that something will happen very quickly.

right away

A more informal and direct way of saying something happens quickly.

at once

Indicates that something happens without delay.

forthwith

A formal and somewhat archaic way of saying immediately.

on the double

Suggests a sense of urgency and speed.

in a jiffy

An informal way of saying something happens quickly and easily.

pretty quickly

Highlights the quickness of an event, but with less emphasis.

FAQs

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

Use "virtually immediately" to describe something that happens almost without delay. For example, "The changes will take effect "virtually immediately" after the update is complete."

What's a good alternative to "virtually immediately"?

Alternatives include "almost instantly", "nearly immediately", or "practically instantaneously", depending on the context.

Is "virtually immediately" redundant?

While "virtually" and "immediately" can seem similar, "virtually immediately" emphasizes that something happens with only the slightest delay, making it not strictly redundant but nuanced.

When is it inappropriate to use "virtually immediately"?

Avoid using "virtually immediately" when describing events that are truly instantaneous or have a guaranteed zero delay. In those cases, "immediately" is more accurate.