I almost sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I almost sent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that you were close to sending something, such as a message or an email, but ultimately did not do so. Example: "I almost sent the report yesterday, but I decided to wait for more data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I almost sent him over".

The New Yorker

I almost sent a man to die based on theories that were a load of crap".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But it almost sent her running.

The New York Times

In fact it almost sent me to the grave.

The Guardian - Sport

I had almost sent him here alone until I realized he didn't know the route, which isn't surprising since it involves the Hutchinson River, Cross County and Bronx River Parkways.

The New York Times

That's when I made a realization that almost sent me running for the smelling salts: There were shocking similarities between the habits health researchers prescribe today and those Austen extolled more than 200 years ago.

The Washington Post

Seventeen years ago I turned up at Wembley on the big day and was almost sent home because I had the wrong kit.

Independent

Now, despite joining nearly three years after me, he's almost sent as many tweets as I have (and I think I tweet a lot).

TechCrunch

Tim feels it's time for some tough love and tells him he was almost sent home yesterday, "I feel like you needed a dose of Tim Gunn medicine".

Huffington Post

It wasn't long before I fell victim to phishing attacks and almost sent money to someone in Florida for a puppy.

TechCrunch

I stood to walk out of class, knocking into my desk and almost sent my notebook spilling its contents onto the floor.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I almost sent" to create suspense or imply a decision against a specific action, adding detail about why you reconsidered to enhance the narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "I almost send" as it changes the meaning to a habitual, near-action instead of a specific instance where you nearly performed the action of sending something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I almost sent" functions as a declarative statement describing a near-action in the past. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I almost sent" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a near-action that was ultimately not completed. According to Ludwig, it is acceptable for use in writing and speaking. Its usage is most commonly found in news and media contexts. Consider alternatives like "I nearly dispatched" or "I was just about to send" for nuanced expression. Be mindful of using the correct tense ("I almost send" is incorrect) and leverage the phrase to create suspense or provide context around a decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was just about to send

Focuses on the immediate moment before the sending action.

I nearly dispatched

Emphasizes the imminence of sending, using 'dispatched' for a more formal tone.

I came close to mailing

Replaces 'sent' with 'mailing', stressing the closeness of the action.

I was on the verge of transmitting

Uses 'on the verge' to highlight the near completion of sending, 'transmitting' adds a tech-related nuance.

I practically shipped

Uses 'practically' for emphasis and 'shipped' for a concrete action.

I all but forwarded

Indicates that only a minor thing prevented the sending, with 'forwarded' specific to emails or digital documents.

I almost shipped out

More emphatic with 'shipped out', implies a physical delivery was nearly initiated.

I contemplated sending

Highlights the thinking process before deciding against sending.

I considered dispatching

Similar to 'contemplated', but with a slightly more formal tone due to 'dispatching'.

I had every intention of sending

Underscores the initial plan to send, contrasting with the eventual inaction.

FAQs

What does "I almost sent" mean?

The phrase "I almost sent" indicates that you were very close to sending something, such as a message or package, but ultimately did not.

What can I say instead of "I almost sent"?

You can use alternatives like "I nearly dispatched", "I came close to mailing", or "I was just about to send" depending on the context.

Is "I almost sent" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I almost sent" is grammatically correct. The structure follows standard English sentence construction where 'almost' modifies the verb 'sent'.

How to use "I almost sent" in a sentence?

You can use "I almost sent" to describe a past action that was close to occurring but didn't. For example: "I almost sent the email, but then I noticed a typo."