virtually of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually of" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers due to its ambiguity. Example: "The results were virtually of no significance, leading to further investigation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

(Though American Airlines has asked to be invited—"virtually, of course"—to the wedding).

The Economist

It surprised me to read that you say the Beatles were virtually of no importance as an influence.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sports fans are seated -- virtually, of course -- amid the crowd, but spared the pretzel crumbs and spilled soda.

The New York Times

Rather than just pressing a button to hit a ball, Wii-ers will get to swing the bat - virtually, of course.

The Guardian

"It makes sense that the Asia Society wants to find new ways — physically and virtually — of reaching audiences and donors," said Adrian Ellis, a longtime arts consultant who recently served as executive director of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The New York Times - Arts

"It is a case virtually of a crowd occupying every inch of space in the court room even to the extent of standing next to the sitting space allotted to the reader and stenographer," magistrate Namrita Aggarwal said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Seawater is the source of virtually all of the borate in altered oceanic crust.

Geochemical Transactions

virtually all of them are of people.

The Guardian - Books

Such a voluminous stash of booze is virtually unheard of.

The New York Times

That pace of acceleration is virtually unheard of.

The New York Times

Virtually none of them have received any form of justice.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "virtually of" with more precise alternatives such as "almost all" or "nearly all" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually of" as a substitute for phrases like "virtually all" or "virtually every" because it introduces grammatical ambiguity. Ensure that "virtually" is correctly modifying the intended noun or adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually of" often attempts to function as a qualifier indicating approximation or near equivalence. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect, leading to ambiguity and misinterpretation. A grammatically sound alternative is needed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "virtually of" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended meaning is to express approximation or near equivalence, but it's better to replace it with grammatically sound alternatives such as "almost all", "nearly all", or rephrase the sentence entirely for enhanced clarity. Given that this phrase isn't proper English, writers should opt for better word choices to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost entirely

Emphasizes near-completeness, focusing on the extent to which something is complete or exclusive.

practically all

Highlights the practical aspect of encompassing almost everything.

essentially all

Conveys that something is fundamentally or basically all-encompassing.

nearly all

Focuses on the numerical or quantitative aspect of almost reaching the total.

effectively all

Stresses the functional or operational completeness of something.

in effect all

Similar to 'effectively all', but can also imply a more formal or legalistic context.

tantamount to

Indicates equivalence in effect or value, often in a more abstract or qualitative sense.

as good as

Offers a more colloquial way of expressing near equivalence, often in terms of quality or condition.

close to all

Emphasizes the proximity to a complete or total quantity.

approaching complete

Highlights the ongoing process of becoming complete or total.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the word "virtually" in a sentence?

Use "virtually" to mean 'almost' or 'nearly'. For example, instead of "The project is virtually of no use", try "The project is "virtually useless"".

What are some common mistakes when using "virtually"?

A common error is using "virtually of" instead of more grammatically correct phrases like "virtually all" or "virtually every".

Is "virtually of" grammatically correct?

No, "virtually of" is generally not considered grammatically correct. Better alternatives include "almost all", "nearly all", or rephrasing the sentence to use "virtually" correctly.

What can I say instead of "virtually of"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "almost all", "nearly all", or rephrase the sentence to use "virtually" with a more appropriate grammatical structure.