“Sometimes, expressing the idea of ‘most if not all’ can be tricky, but there are plenty of ways to say it differently!”
When communicating, especially in professional or casual settings, it’s often helpful to have a variety of expressions to convey similar meanings. Saying “most if not all” can sometimes sound repetitive or overly formal. Fortunately, there are many alternatives you can use that help add variety to your speech or writing.
If you find yourself using the phrase “most if not all” repeatedly, it’s a great idea to try some of the alternatives listed below. These can help you sound more natural and offer a more precise or nuanced way of getting your point across.
In this blog, we’ll explore 35 different ways to express the idea of “most if not all.” Each of these alternatives can be used in different scenarios, whether you’re writing an email, giving a speech, or having a conversation with friends or colleagues. Let’s dive into the variety of ways you can say it!
1. “Almost everything”
Scenario: You’re explaining to your friend Alex that most of the team showed up for the event. You could say, “Almost everything was here today.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase implies that the majority of items or people are included, though not necessarily every single one.
Additional Tip: “Almost everything” is casual and easy to understand, making it perfect for both informal and formal contexts.
2. “Nearly all”
Scenario: In a meeting, you’re telling your boss that nearly every task on the list has been completed. You can say, “Nearly all the tasks are finished.”
Subject Explanation: “Nearly all” suggests that the majority of something has been completed or included, but there’s still a slight remainder.
Additional Tip: This phrase is versatile and works well in both professional and casual contexts.
3. “The vast majority”
Scenario: If you’re discussing the attendance of a meeting, you can say, “The vast majority of people were present.”
Subject Explanation: “The vast majority” emphasizes that a large portion of the group or items are included, leaving little doubt about the extent of what you’re talking about.
Additional Tip: This is a more formal phrase, suitable for professional discussions, reports, or presentations.
4. “The bulk of”
Scenario: In a report, you might say, “The bulk of the data supports this conclusion.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase focuses on the largest part or majority of something, without explicitly claiming that it’s every single thing.
Additional Tip: This phrase works well in both writing and speaking, especially in academic or business environments.
5. “Just about all”
Scenario: When summarizing a group project, you can say, “Just about all the team members contributed to the final product.”
Subject Explanation: “Just about all” suggests that almost everyone or everything is included but leaves some flexibility for a small exception.
Additional Tip: This phrase is informal, so it’s better used in casual conversations or emails with friends and colleagues.
6. “A large portion of”
Scenario: During a presentation, you could mention, “A large portion of the community participated in the survey.”
Subject Explanation: This expression highlights a substantial part of the whole, without implying it is complete.
Additional Tip: “A large portion of” works well in both professional and personal settings, especially when referring to surveys or data collection.
7. “The majority”
Scenario: In a meeting with your team, you might say, “The majority of the project is completed.”
Subject Explanation: This is a straightforward way to indicate that most of something has been done or included, with the remaining part being smaller or less significant.
Additional Tip: “The majority” works in almost any context, making it a versatile and widely understood phrase.
8. “Almost all”
Scenario: When talking to your colleague Sam, you could say, “Almost all the reports were submitted on time.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase suggests that nearly everything has been done or included, with the possibility of a small number of exceptions.
Additional Tip: “Almost all” is informal and easy to use in everyday conversations, making it great for casual contexts.
9. “A great deal of”
Scenario: You’re explaining to a client that a significant amount of research has been done. You might say, “A great deal of work has been completed.”
Subject Explanation: “A great deal of” emphasizes a large quantity or extent of something, often used for uncountable nouns like work, effort, or information.
Additional Tip: This phrase is particularly useful in professional and academic contexts, where precision and clarity are important.
10. “The lion’s share”
Scenario: If you’re discussing how much of the budget was used on marketing, you can say, “The lion’s share of the funds went into marketing.”
Subject Explanation: This idiom refers to the largest portion of something, often suggesting that it is the majority or nearly everything.
Additional Tip: “The lion’s share” is more casual and works best in informal or semi-formal settings.
11. “The greater part of”
Scenario: You are explaining to your colleague Anna that most of the participants in a survey agreed on the new policy. You can say, “The greater part of the participants voted in favor of the new policy.”
Subject Explanation: This expression indicates that a majority or larger portion of something is being referenced, but without the certainty that every element is included.
Additional Tip: This phrase is formal and commonly used in professional or academic writing to describe the larger portion of something.
12. “A significant amount of”
Scenario: During a team meeting, you might mention, “A significant amount of time was spent reviewing the documents.”
Subject Explanation: “A significant amount of” refers to a large, noticeable, or important quantity of something, often emphasizing the importance of what is being discussed.
Additional Tip: This expression is useful when you want to convey that the amount or effort put in was considerable, but not necessarily all-encompassing.
13. “Nearly the entire”
Scenario: If you’re talking about a product launch, you could say, “Nearly the entire team was involved in the preparations.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase highlights that a very large portion of a group or thing is included, leaving room for a small exception.
Additional Tip: “Nearly the entire” can be used in both professional and informal settings, making it a versatile phrase.
14. “A substantial portion of”
Scenario: You might tell your manager, “A substantial portion of the budget has already been allocated to marketing.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase emphasizes a large, notable part of something, often used when discussing resources or quantities.
Additional Tip: It’s a great alternative to use when you need to convey a significant portion of something but don’t want to imply that it’s complete.
15. “The preponderance of”
Scenario: In a discussion about survey results, you can say, “The preponderance of respondents were in favor of the new policy.”
Subject Explanation: “The preponderance of” refers to the greater weight or majority of something, often used in more formal contexts.
Additional Tip: This phrase is more formal and works well in reports, academic writing, and discussions that require a more professional tone.
16. “Most of”
Scenario: When summarizing a group project, you can tell your team, “Most of the research has already been done.”
Subject Explanation: “Most of” is simple and clear, referring to the majority of something, without implying perfection or completeness.
Additional Tip: This is one of the most common and flexible expressions to use in everyday conversation, as well as in professional contexts.
17. “Almost the whole”
Scenario: You’re discussing a class attendance report and say, “Almost the whole class participated in the survey.”
Subject Explanation: “Almost the whole” implies that a very large portion of something is involved, with only a few exceptions.
Additional Tip: This is an informal expression, best used in everyday conversations with colleagues or friends.
18. “A good portion of”
Scenario: When talking about project progress, you can say, “A good portion of the project is already complete.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase is a casual way of indicating that a large part or significant amount of something has been accomplished.
Additional Tip: “A good portion of” is commonly used in both professional and casual settings and conveys a sense of positive progress.
19. “In large part”
Scenario: During a team meeting, you could say, “In large part, the success of the campaign was due to the team’s hard work.”
Subject Explanation: “In large part” suggests that most of something is responsible for the outcome or situation, but there may be other contributing factors.
Additional Tip: This phrase is flexible and can be used in formal and informal contexts, especially when explaining causes or reasons.
20. “A majority of”
Scenario: You might say to a client, “A majority of our customers have expressed interest in the new product.”
Subject Explanation: “A majority of” directly refers to the larger portion or most of the group being discussed.
Additional Tip: This is a straightforward and neutral expression, ideal for both casual and professional settings.
21. “Virtually all”
Scenario: When updating your supervisor, you can say, “Virtually all the reports have been reviewed and approved.”
Subject Explanation: “Virtually all” indicates that nearly every part of something has been accounted for, with only minor exceptions.
Additional Tip: This is an informal expression and can be used in both everyday conversations and casual work settings.
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22. “The majority of the time”
Scenario: If you’re telling a colleague that most of your work is spent on a particular task, you might say, “The majority of the time, I’m working on customer support.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase conveys that most of the time, something happens, but not always.
Additional Tip: “The majority of the time” is perfect for emphasizing patterns, habits, or general behavior without implying constant or total occurrence.
23. “In most cases”
Scenario: While discussing project timelines with your manager, you might say, “In most cases, we complete the work ahead of schedule.”
Subject Explanation: “In most cases” suggests that the statement applies to the majority of situations, but not every single one.
Additional Tip: This phrase is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, making it very versatile.
24. “More than half”
Scenario: If you’re talking about customer satisfaction, you might say, “More than half of the customers were happy with the service.”
Subject Explanation: “More than half” indicates that a majority of something has been addressed, but not all of it.
Additional Tip: This phrase is casual and easy to use, especially in discussions about statistics or survey results.
25. “By and large”
Scenario: If you’re explaining the outcome of a project, you could say, “By and large, the project was a success.”
Subject Explanation: “By and large” means for the most part, emphasizing the larger portion of something while acknowledging minor exceptions.
Additional Tip: This expression works well in informal conversations and written reports, adding variety to your language.
26. “Almost entirely”
Scenario: You’re updating a colleague, saying, “The project is almost entirely complete.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase suggests that nearly everything is finished or done, with very little left to do.
Additional Tip: “Almost entirely” is slightly more formal than “almost everything” and can be used in both professional and informal settings.
27. “A large extent of”
Scenario: When explaining a decision, you might say, “A large extent of the budget was allocated to marketing.”
Subject Explanation: This phrase highlights a significant portion of something, often referring to resources or influence.
Additional Tip: “A large extent of” is a formal phrase often used in reports or when discussing business decisions.
28. “Predominantly”
Scenario: While presenting a survey result, you could say, “The feedback was predominantly positive.”
Subject Explanation: “Predominantly” suggests that the majority or most of something is in a particular state or condition, with only a small deviation.
Additional Tip: This is a formal term and works best in professional contexts or more analytical discussions.
29. “For the most part”
Scenario: When explaining a project’s outcome, you might say, “For the most part, the team met the deadlines.”
Subject Explanation: “For the most part” is used to describe something that is mostly true, with only a few exceptions.
Additional Tip: This phrase is common in casual conversation and works well in both professional and personal discussions.
30. “In the main”
Scenario: While summarizing a report, you could say, “In the main, the results were favorable.”
Subject Explanation: “In the main” means overall or generally, referring to the larger portion of the matter at hand.
Additional Tip: This expression is formal and works best in written communication or professional discussions.
31. “The greater part”
Scenario: You might say to your boss, “The greater part of the project has been completed ahead of schedule.”
Subject Explanation: “The greater part” refers to a large portion or majority of something, typically used in formal discussions.
Additional Tip: “The greater part” is a useful expression for professional settings, especially when emphasizing significant progress.
32. “Almost all of it”
Scenario: If you’re summarizing an event, you might say, “Almost all of it was well-received by the audience.”
Subject Explanation: This expression implies that most of something was true or applicable, with a few small exceptions.
Additional Tip: It’s informal and suitable for casual conversations or social settings.
33. “Nearly all of”
Scenario: During a meeting, you could mention, “Nearly all of the recommendations were implemented in the final version.”
Subject Explanation: “Nearly all of” is similar to “almost all of,” suggesting that most of something was included or done.
Additional Tip: It’s useful in both professional and casual contexts to convey that something is almost complete or fully accounted for.
34. “The bulk of”
Scenario: When giving a progress update, you might say, “The bulk of the work has already been completed.”
Subject Explanation: “The bulk of” refers to the largest portion or the major part of something.
Additional Tip: This is commonly used in business and professional settings to emphasize the most significant part of something.
35. “Overwhelmingly”
Scenario: While discussing survey results, you might say, “The responses were overwhelmingly positive.”
Subject Explanation: “Overwhelmingly” means that something is so dominant that other elements are hardly noticeable.
Additional Tip: This is a great word to emphasize a strong majority, and it works best in formal or analytical discussions.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- These alternatives allow for more variety in your speech or writing.
- They help convey subtle differences in meaning, especially when you want to emphasize how close something is to being complete.
- They work well in both formal and informal contexts.
Cons:
- Some phrases may sound overly formal or stiff in casual conversation.
- It may be challenging to choose the right phrase for certain situations without sounding repetitive.
Conclusion
Incorporating alternatives to “most if not all” can bring a fresh touch to your communication. By using these expressions, you can add variety to your speech or writing while making your meaning clearer.
Whether you’re talking about work, events, or personal experiences, using these phrases will make you sound more confident and precise. Next time you’re tempted to use the same old expression, try one of these alternatives and see how much more dynamic your conversation becomes!
I’m Jane Austen, a language expert at Minglishs, dedicated to helping learners master English through engaging and accessible content. My passion for literature and teaching drives me to make language learning both enjoyable and effective.
