“Most, if not all” means that a statement applies to a large majority and may apply to every member of the group. Alternatives differ in strength, so avoid replacing it with “all” unless the evidence genuinely supports a universal claim.
Choose the Phrase by How Certain You Are
- Nearly all
- Almost all
- The vast majority
- An overwhelming majority
- Most
- The great majority
- All or nearly all
- Practically all
- Virtually all
- The majority, and possibly all
- Most, perhaps all
- The bulk of
- Almost every
- With few, if any, exceptions
Nearly all
A concise alternative suggesting only a very small number of exceptions.
Example: Nearly all participants completed the first questionnaire.
Almost all
A common natural phrase with essentially the same meaning as “nearly all.”
Example: Almost all sites submitted their data on time.
The vast majority
Emphasizes a very large majority without implying that every case is covered.
Example: The vast majority of respondents supported the proposal.
An overwhelming majority
Stronger than “vast majority” and best when the proportion is clearly dominant.
Example: An overwhelming majority voted in favor of the change.
Most
The simplest option when you only need to say more than half or a clear majority.
Example: Most applicants met the essential criteria.
The great majority
A slightly formal phrase for a large majority.
Example: The great majority of cases were resolved within two weeks.
All or nearly all
A close explicit substitute when available information cannot distinguish between complete and near-complete coverage.
Example: The change affected all or nearly all departments.
Practically all
An informal-to-neutral phrase meaning so many that the exceptions make little practical difference.
Example: Practically all of the seats had been taken by noon.
Virtually all
Common formal wording for almost complete coverage.
Example: Virtually all records were available electronically.
The majority, and possibly all
A cautious formulation when you know the statement covers most cases but cannot verify every case.
Example: The issue affected the majority, and possibly all, of the older devices.
Most, perhaps all
Concise wording that preserves uncertainty about whether there are any exceptions.
Example: Most, perhaps all, of the examples come from the same source.
The bulk of
A more informal phrase for the larger part of a group or quantity.
Example: The bulk of the work was completed during the first phase.
Almost every
Best before a singular countable noun when exceptions are very rare.
Example: Almost every respondent answered the final question.
With few, if any, exceptions
A formal way to emphasize near-universality while acknowledging possible exceptions.
Example: The policy was followed with few, if any, exceptions.