virtually ubiquitous

USAGE SUMMARY

'virtually ubiquitous' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to emphasize how commonplace something is, especially when it's almost everywhere or very common. For example: Social media has become virtually ubiquitous in our society.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

On the other side of the Schuylkill, construction crews have become virtually ubiquitous.

University of Pennsylvania

Plasmid engineering and molecular cloning is a virtually ubiquitous tool in biology.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Small-scale agroprocessing of food grains and other crops is virtually ubiquitous in the state.

Britannica

In the United States, especially in regions of warmer climate, the stucco bungalow became virtually ubiquitous in the 1920s.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They range from the virtually ubiquitous "m" to the rare "click consonants" heard in several languages in southern Africa.

The Times

Today, matching rights are virtually ubiquitous in large M&A deals and are being rapidly incorporated into deals at all levels in many industries.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The preference for GC nucleotides is present in virtually all known lineages of halophiles and is nearly ubiquitous amongst the Halobacteria, Haloquadratum walsbyi being the sole known exception.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

"The new black," says Edward Nardoza, editor of Women's Wear Daily, "could be pink, blue or virtually any other ubiquitous color".

The New York Times - Magazine

And the technology is already ubiquitous: virtually every interaction we have with Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, Spotify et al is mediated by machine-learning systems.

The Guardian - Opinion

Companies creating autonomous taxi fleets have a unique opportunity to define and lead this shift toward virtually free and ubiquitous transportation.

TechCrunch

Phallus paintings and carvings, once ubiquitous on virtually every Bhutanese building, have vanished in most urban centers.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid redundancy by not pairing "virtually ubiquitous" with other words that already imply widespread presence; instead, use specific examples to illustrate its pervasiveness.

Common error

A common mistake is using "virtually ubiquitous" when describing something that, while common, has significant exceptions or limitations. This diminishes credibility; instead, quantify its prevalence or acknowledge exceptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually ubiquitous" functions as an adverbial modifier that intensifies the adjective "ubiquitous". It describes the extent to which something is present or common, indicating near-total prevalence. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of various example sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "virtually ubiquitous" is a powerful phrase to denote near-total prevalence, widely used across diverse fields from science and news to academia. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and emphasizes that something is exceedingly common. While similar to "ubiquitous", it allows for exceptions, so accuracy in context is crucial. For alternative expressions, consider "almost everywhere" or "nearly universal" to tailor your specific meaning. Remember to avoid overstating its application to maintain writing clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everywhere

This alternative emphasizes the spatial distribution of something, suggesting it's present in nearly all locations.

nearly universal

This phrase highlights the widespread acceptance or occurrence of something across a population or set.

extremely prevalent

This alternative focuses on the high frequency or commonness of something.

widely diffused

This emphasizes the spread or distribution of something across an area or group.

commonplace

This suggests something is ordinary and unremarkable due to its frequency.

pervasive

This indicates something spreads throughout and affects everything.

rampant

This alternative suggests something is spreading uncontrollably or rapidly.

all-pervading

This emphasizes that something is present or noticeable throughout every part of a thing or place.

globally present

This phrase is mainly used to underline the location or spacial presence of something that occurs world-wide.

found in abundance

This suggests a large quantity of something is present and easily located.

FAQs

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

You can use "virtually ubiquitous" to describe something that is almost everywhere or very common. For example, "The use of smartphones is "virtually ubiquitous" among young adults".

What are some alternatives to "virtually ubiquitous"?

Alternatives include "almost everywhere", "nearly universal", or "extremely prevalent", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "virtually ubiquitous" the same as "ubiquitous"?

While similar, "virtually ubiquitous" implies near-total presence with possible exceptions, whereas "ubiquitous" suggests complete and total presence everywhere. "Virtually" adds a degree of qualification.

Which is more appropriate: "virtually ubiquitous" or "almost ubiquitous"?

Both are appropriate, but "virtually ubiquitous" might sound more formal. "Almost ubiquitous" is a more direct, slightly less formal way to express the same idea.