virtually to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually to be" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing something that is almost or nearly in a certain state or condition, but it is not commonly used. Example: "The project is virtually to be completed by the end of the month, pending final approvals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They grew up with their faces glued to computer screens, they find socializing virtually to be a pretty good stand-in or supplement for face-to-face interaction.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

You should understand, however, that it is virtually impossible to be precise about most of these figures.

The New York Times - Books

There's virtually nothing to be faulted about the cast, the music or the glorious set.

The Guardian

Even worse, it's virtually impossible to be lively, dynamic and -- most important -- connecting when you're reading.

Huffington Post

It is virtually impossible to be a consequential literary artist without infusing your work with sympathy.

The New York Times - Magazine

In all three debates the viewing audience is virtually guaranteed to be tens of millions of Americans.

The Guardian

Even apart from his lack of experience, Mr. Dorn said, it was virtually impossible to be effective.

The New York Times

Many Romance dialects literally or virtually ceased to be spoken in the 20th century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the commercial theatre of the 20th-century United States he virtually had to be an impresario.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Therefore, Bush's request for the extension is virtually certain to be granted.

Forbes

Sadid knew a spot further inland that was virtually guaranteed to be teeming with crocodiles.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "virtually to be" with more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "almost to be" or "nearly to be" for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid forcing "virtually" into constructions where it doesn't naturally fit. It's better to use a simpler word that directly conveys the intended meaning, or rewrite the sentence entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually to be" functions as an adverbial modifier attempting to express a state of near completion or approximation. However, Ludwig indicates this usage is non-standard and grammatically questionable. The primary aim is to convey that something is close to achieving a particular condition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

27%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually to be" is an infrequently used and somewhat awkward construction in English. According to Ludwig, it is not considered standard. While its intent is to convey that something is close to a particular state, it's generally advisable to use clearer, more idiomatic alternatives such as "almost to be" or "nearly to be". Its occurrence is spread across various contexts like News & Media and Science, but its rarity suggests caution in employing it. Choosing more direct and widely accepted phrases will improve clarity and the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost to be

Replaces "virtually" with "almost", indicating a near state.

nearly to be

Replaces "virtually" with "nearly", conveying a similar sense of approximation.

practically to be

Substitutes "virtually" with "practically", suggesting a real-world effect.

essentially to be

Replaces "virtually" with "essentially", focusing on the core nature.

tantamount to being

Replaces the phrase with a more formal expression indicating equivalence.

all but to be

Replaces "virtually" with "all but", suggesting that only a little remains.

effectively to be

Replaces "virtually" with "effectively", highlighting the practical result.

in effect to be

Substitutes with "in effect", emphasizing the actual outcome.

for all intents and purposes to be

A more verbose substitute highlighting the perceived reality.

to all appearances to be

Focuses on the outward impression or perception of something.

FAQs

What does "virtually to be" mean?

The phrase "virtually to be" is not standard English and its meaning can be unclear. It generally implies something is close to being in a particular state, but it's better to use clearer alternatives.

What can I say instead of "virtually to be"?

You can use alternatives like "almost to be", "nearly to be", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Is it correct to use "virtually to be" in formal writing?

No, "virtually to be" is not recommended for formal writing due to its awkwardness and lack of common usage. Opt for more precise and standard alternatives.

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "virtually to be"?

Consider what you're trying to convey. For example, instead of "The project is virtually to be completed", try "The project is "almost complete"" or "The project is "nearing completion"".