I nearly forget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I nearly forget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you almost, but not quite forget something. For example, "I nearly forgot to turn in my homework on Monday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Most days, I nearly forget Anderson has Down syndrome.

Huffington Post

Charging it in the lounge, I nearly forget it, and scoop it up hastily.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I nearly forgot to mention lunch.

Independent

And, oh, I nearly forgot.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was so excited for what lay ahead, I nearly forgot to wave goodbye to my parents.

The New York Times

Personally, I was so invested in the bizarro Tony race on "Smash" that I nearly forgot about the real thing.

The New Yorker

For the next two days -- I ended up taking two excursions with the Goldhills, one full day and one half-day -- I nearly forgot about Carriacou.

The New York Times - Travel

He is a man of simple certainties, confident, funny ("On the deficit" – pause – "I nearly forgot the deficit") and fluent, an English Alex Salmond marketing hope through panacea nationalism.

The Guardian

There was a bit of informal awkwardness going from one bit of the service to the next – I nearly forgot the psalm, think of it!

The Guardian - Opinion

So you can forget Mr Eisman an I nearly forgot Mr Spoffard as Dorothy says hes a minger an shed much rather marry his fatha as he will croke sooner.

The Guardian - Books

PS: Oh I nearly forgot, Newsnight is doing a piece on the situation in Spain tonight, reporting on Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo, the mayor who has called for debt relief...and encouraged the poor to raid supermarkets for food (as reported here).

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I nearly forget" to express a close call in forgetting something, emphasizing that you remembered just in time. It adds a personal touch and a sense of immediacy to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "I nearly forget" when you've actually forgotten something. The phrase implies that you remembered before it was too late, unlike its alternative phrase "I forgot" which expresses that you did not remember the target item.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I nearly forget" functions as an expression indicating a momentary lapse in memory that was quickly corrected. It's used to signal that the speaker almost forgot something but remembered it in time. Ludwig examples validate this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I nearly forget" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression that conveys the idea of almost forgetting something but remembering it just in time. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's a versatile phrase found in various News & Media sources. While semantically close to "I almost forgot", it's important not to use it when complete forgetfulness has occurred. Proper usage adds emphasis and a personal touch to your narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I almost forgot

Uses "almost" instead of "nearly", implying a very close call to forgetting.

I practically forgot

Similar to "almost forgot", but can imply a slightly higher degree of forgetfulness.

I was about to forget

Implies an action was interrupted just before forgetting.

I came close to forgetting

Emphasizes the nearness of forgetting something.

It almost slipped my mind

Indicates that the information was on the verge of being forgotten.

I was on the verge of forgetting

Highlights the imminence of forgetting.

I momentarily forgot

Suggests a brief lapse in memory.

It nearly escaped my memory

Focuses on the information trying to leave one's memory.

I had a near lapse of memory

More formal way to express almost forgetting.

I was close to overlooking

Indicates a similarity, but usually focuses more on actions rather than abstract items.

FAQs

What does "I nearly forget" mean?

The phrase "I nearly forget" means that you almost forgot something but remembered it before it was too late. It implies that forgetting was a close call.

When is it appropriate to use "I nearly forget" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "I nearly forget" when you want to emphasize that you almost forgot something important but managed to recall it just in time. It can add a sense of urgency or personal connection to your writing.

What are some alternatives to "I nearly forget"?

Alternatives include "I almost forgot", "I came close to forgetting", or "It almost slipped my mind". These phrases convey a similar meaning of almost forgetting something.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I nearly forget"?

Yes, "I nearly forget" is grammatically correct. The adverb "nearly" modifies the verb "forget", indicating the near completion of the action. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and usable.