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Virtually vs Substantially - What's the difference?

virtually | substantially |

As adverbs the difference between virtually and substantially

is that virtually is almost but not quite while substantially is in a strong substantial manner; considerably.

virtually

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • Almost but not quite.
  • *
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-06, volume=408, issue=8843, page=68, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The rise of smart beta , passage=Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.}}
  • Without exaggeration.
  • In essence, but not in fact.
  • (algebra) Of a substructure of finite index.
  • (topology) Of a covering space of finite index.
  • substantially

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a strong substantial manner; considerably.
  • * 2012 October 23, David Leonhardt, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/us/politics/race-for-president-leaves-income-slump-in-shadows.html?_r=1&hp]," New York Times (retrieved 24 October 2012):
  • For the first time since the Great Depression, median family income has fallen substantially over an entire decade. Income grew slowly through most of the last decade, except at the top of the distribution, before falling sharply when the financial crisis began.
  • To a great extent; in essence; essentially.
  • Without material qualifications.