virtually no time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually no time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is almost no time available for a particular task or activity. Example: "We have virtually no time left to complete the project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Earnhardt had virtually no time to straighten his head.

The New York Times - Sports

So I had virtually no time for anything and had to be really focused.

The New York Times

They had proceeded to a committed relationship in virtually no time at all.

The New York Times

They had virtually no time, they said, to adjust their lives to their altered circumstances.

The New York Times

E-mail messages are allowed to be short and take virtually no time.

The New York Times

This means that there is virtually no time to perfect anything.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

And because Netflix is getting a better price on discs and can therefore buy more, it says subscribers will soon encounter virtually no wait times when they want to get the most popular Warner new releases.

The New York Times

"Little Red Corvette" (1983) was Prince's first big crossover hit, gaining airplay on MTV at a time when virtually no black artists appeared on the influential new medium.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I've been through spring trainings where I had virtually no playing time at all," he said, "and I've gone through the year fine".

The New York Times - Sports

He'll have virtually no practice time to work with, and he'll be working against what many of these players have been allowed to do for their entire basketball careers.

The New York Times

Cable cars are increasingly used for mass transit in world cities and across rivers because they need little space, have virtually no waiting time, can run at over 20mph, and have very low emissions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing urgency or a severe limitation on time, use "virtually no time" to clearly convey the constraint. For example, "Due to the tight deadline, we had "virtually no time" for revisions".

Common error

Avoid using "virtually no time" when there is actually a small window of time available. "Virtually no time" implies an almost complete absence of time, not just a short period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually no time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It indicates the degree to which an action can be performed or a situation can exist due to a severe limitation on available time. As Ludwig confirms, it's a correct expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually no time" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase indicating a severe lack of time. As shown by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of the actual degree of time limitation to avoid overstatement. Consider alternatives like "almost no time" or "scarcely any time" for nuanced emphasis. The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal communication, conveying urgency or constraint effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost no time

This alternative replaces "virtually" with "almost", maintaining the core meaning of a near absence of time.

practically no time

Swaps "virtually" for "practically", suggesting the time is so minimal as to be negligible in a practical sense.

essentially no time

This substitutes "virtually" with "essentially", highlighting the lack of time in a fundamental sense.

scarcely any time

Replaces "virtually no" with "scarcely any", emphasizing the limited amount of time available.

hardly any time

Uses "hardly any" to convey the small amount of time available.

very little time

Employs a more direct approach by stating the time is "very little", simplifying the expression.

minimal time

Replaces the phrase with a concise term indicating the least possible amount of time.

next to no time

Indicates the time is so small it is almost nonexistent.

a negligible amount of time

Expresses the time as insignificant or unimportant.

an insignificant amount of time

Indicates that the duration is very short, not worthy of consideration.

FAQs

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

You can use "virtually no time" to indicate a severe limitation on available time for a task or activity. For example: "The project needs to be finished ASAP, and we have "virtually no time" to spare."

What's a good alternative to "virtually no time"?

Alternatives to "virtually no time" include phrases like "almost no time", "practically no time", or "scarcely any time". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "virtually no time" in formal writing?

Yes, "virtually no time" is suitable for formal writing. As shown by the provided examples, the expression is used in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Economist. However, consider your audience and choose the phrasing that best suits the overall tone.

What's the difference between "virtually no time" and "almost no time"?

While both phrases mean a near absence of time, "virtually no time" can emphasize the lack of time more strongly than "almost no time". The choice depends on the degree of emphasis needed in the context.