virtually no information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually no information" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is an extremely small amount of information available or provided. Example: "After reviewing the report, I found that it contained virtually no information about the project's progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In this article, we define 'non-informative priors' as prior distributions, that carry virtually no information about the likely true value of a parameter.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Virtually no information has been willingly released.

The Washington Post

Even the website is po-faced: virtually no information whatsoever.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A Democratic contact says that his party received "no consultation, no collaboration, virtually no information".

The New York Times

But parents often say they were given virtually no information, let alone choices.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The association lists virtually no information about its work on its website.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is virtually no information on the species' diet, despite its undoubted abundance.

Cornell University

However, there is virtually no information published about the magnitude of TRR for unconventional gas on a global scale.

Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources Handbook Evaluation and Development

Typical of the genus Leucopternis, it is very poorly known, with virtually no information on its basic natural history.

Cornell University

The chat service retains virtually no information from users, including messages and address books, on its servers.

The New York Times - Tech

Unfortunately due to the relative paucity of studies on teleost immune cells, virtually no information exists on LPC, or ASC diversity in these species.

Aquaculture

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "virtually no information", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific information is lacking to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "virtually no information on the species' diet" instead of simply "virtually no information".

Common error

Avoid using "virtually no information" when some information, however minimal, exists. Instead, consider phrases like "limited information" or "insufficient data" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually no information" functions as a quantifier, indicating a near-complete absence of details or data. Ludwig indicates that it is typically used to emphasize a significant lack of knowledge or data regarding a topic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually no information" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate a near-complete absence of data or details on a particular subject. As verified by Ludwig, it functions as a quantifier, serving the purpose of highlighting a deficiency in knowledge. It is particularly prevalent in scientific and news contexts, and while suitable for various registers, it's crucial to ensure its accurate application, avoiding overstatement when some information exists. Related phrases include "almost no information" or "practically no information". Using "virtually no information" can emphasize a significant gap in understanding, driving the need for further investigation or clarification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost no information

This alternative uses "almost" instead of "virtually", slightly reducing the emphasis on the lack of information.

practically no information

Replaces "virtually" with "practically", conveying a similar sense of near-total absence of information.

essentially no information

Similar to "virtually no information" but employs "essentially" to soften the statement.

scarcely any information

Uses "scarcely any" to express the rarity of available information, shifting the focus to scarcity.

hardly any information

Similar to "scarcely any information", this emphasizes the difficulty in finding any information.

a dearth of information

This option employs "dearth" to indicate a significant lack of information, presenting a more formal tone.

a paucity of information

Similar to "dearth", "paucity" highlights a small quantity of information available.

an absence of information

Directly states that information is missing, providing a straightforward alternative.

little to no information

This phrase offers a softer way to express the near absence of information, using a range.

a lack of sufficient information

Emphasizes that the information is not just missing, but is also inadequate for a specific purpose.

FAQs

What does "virtually no information" mean?

The phrase "virtually no information" indicates that there is extremely little or almost no data, details, or knowledge available about a particular subject or situation.

How can I use "virtually no information" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a situation where data is lacking, like: "There is "almost no information" available about the long-term effects of this medication."

What are some alternatives to "virtually no information"?

Some alternatives include "scarcely any information", "practically no information", "little to no information", or "a lack of sufficient information" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "virtually no information" versus "limited information"?

"Virtually no information" is suitable when data is almost nonexistent. Use "limited information" when some data exists, but it's insufficient or incomplete. You should only use "virtually no information" if the alternative is overstating the lack of information.