2020-12-02
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด P – Practically & virtually
แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น
ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค
Dictionary.com
ออกเสียง Practically = ‘PRAK-tik-lee’
ออกเสียง virtually = ‘VUR-choo-uh-lee’
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree
Virtually = for the most part;
almost completely; just about:
He was virtually scared out of his wits.
[Literally, like virtually, is widely used as an intensifier
meaning “in effect,” which contradicts the earliermeaning of
“actually, without exaggeration.”
Virtually is often used to mean “actually”
when its definition is “for practical purposes though not in name.”]
Not to be confused with:
actually – an actual or existing fact;
really; genuinely, without exaggeration:
The deceased was actually frightened to death.
literally – in a literal manner; word for word:
literally translated;
actually; withoutexaggeration or inaccuracy:
The platoon was literally wiped out in the explosion.
Dictionary.com
USAGE NOTE FOR PRACTICALLY
A few usage guides object to the use of practically
in the senses “in effect, virtually” and “almost, nearly.”
Both uses, however, are well established and standard in all
varieties of speech and writing.
Dictionary.com
VOCAB BUILDER
What does virtually mean?
Virtually most generally means
in effect but not in fact,
as in Today, virtually all cell phones are smartphones.
Close synonyms are nearly, practically, and just about
—they all mean virtually the same thing.
Virtually is the adverb form of the adjective virtual,
which is most generally used to describe something
as being the same as something else in almost every way,
except perhaps in name or some other minor, technical sense.
For example, describing a company as a virtual monopoly
means it’s pretty much a monopoly but not technically one,
perhaps because it has a few minor competitors.
Virtual also commonly means simulated orextended by computer software.
The word is used this way in virtual reality,
which refers to a fully simulated environment.
To render something virtually is
to create a representation or simulation of it using a computer.
Sometimes, things described as virtual may not involve simulation at all,
such as a virtual meeting or a virtual concert.
The use of virtual in these phrases
represents a more recent sense of the word thatmeans something
like “remote and via the internet” (especially when accessed via a live video feed).
Virtually can be used inthe same way,
as in I can’t make it into the office, but I’ll be working virtually.
Example: Virtually everyone agrees with the proposal—it has a 99.9% approval rating.
Dictionary.com
Where does virtually come from?
The first records of the word virtually come from around 1400.
It comes from the Medieval Latin virtuālis, meaning “effective”
(in the sense of having the effect ofsomething without the form or appearance of it).
The suffix -ly is used to create adverbs.
The word effectively can be used asa synonym of virtually
in the same way as practically.
Saying that something is virtually impossible
means that in effect and for all practical purposes,
it can’t be done, though it may technically be possible.
Recently, virtually has become more commonly used to describe
experiencing something remotely via the internet,
as in We plan to meet virtually using a video platform.
Working virtually usually means the same thing
as working remotely or working from home.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
'Virtually'
Also in the news this week was virtually,
after President Trump stated that Covid-19 “affects virtuallynobody.”
President Trump was speaking at a rally in Ohio on Monday evening
when he said the coronavirus "affects virtually nobody."
On Tuesday, the U.S. reached the grim milestone of 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.
— Caitlin O’Kane, CBS News, 22 Sept. 2020
We define virtually as “almost entirely; nearly” or “for all practical purposes.”
The word has been in use in English since the 15th century,
and we have never attached a specific numeric value to it.
Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression
Practically & virtually
Practically means “effectively,” “in a practical manner,”
“from a practical point of view”:
“It is practically useless to vote in this election.”
“Try to view your situation practically.”
“Practically speaking, you are financially bankrupt.”
Practically is also used to mean “nearly,” “almost”:
”The campers were practically out of food.”
Virtually means “for the most part,” “just about,” “almost entirely”:
“The loggers virtually completed the work in an hour.”
“Before he won the race he was virtually unknown.”
Recommendation:
confine the use of practically to the meaning of practice and practical;
use nearly and almost more often than practicallyand virtually,
because in one limited sense,
practically means virtually the same thing as virtually.
