I was almost crying

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was almost crying" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to emphasize how close you were to crying, either in a serious or a humorous context. For example, "I was almost crying when I realized I had forgotten to buy gifts for my mother's birthday!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"I was almost crying".

The New York Times - Arts

"I was almost crying when they told me," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was almost crying," said Mr. Giannoulias, who eventually won.

The New York Times

"I was almost crying, like, 'I didn't sign up for this,' " Blue said.

The New York Times - Sports

"They say, 'Thank you, mazel tov,' they're crying, kissing the Torah," he said, adding, "I was almost crying myself".

The New York Times

"If I had to make anything further than that, my hands were shaking so bad, I was almost crying," she said, adding, "My heart was racing so many times, so many points out there".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

So excited I'm almost crying.

The Guardian - Travel

Look at me -- I'm almost crying here".

The New York Times - Style

(I'm almost crying just writing this).

Vice

"I'm almost crying for your baby," Williams said to the woman.

HuffPost

When combined with another recent intriguing but statistically inconclusive result in atomic physics, says Erler, it is "almost crying out for Z'".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was almost crying" to convey a strong emotional reaction, indicating you were very close to tears without actually crying. This can be effective in personal anecdotes or descriptive writing to evoke empathy.

Common error

Avoid using "I was almost crying" in professional or academic writing. Opt for more formal language to express strong emotions, such as "I was deeply moved" or "I found the situation profoundly touching".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was almost crying" functions as an expression of near-tears, conveying a strong emotional reaction without explicitly stating that the person cried. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was almost crying" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a strong emotional reaction, indicating a state of near-tears. As Ludwig points out, it effectively emphasizes how close one was to crying, suitable for both serious and humorous contexts. While frequently found in news and media, its usage should be carefully considered in formal writing, where alternatives such as "I was deeply moved" might be more appropriate. Its neutral to informal register makes it best suited for personal narratives and less formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was close to tears

Simplifies the original phrase while maintaining the core meaning.

I nearly burst into tears

Replaces "almost crying" with a more emphatic expression of near-tears.

I was on the verge of tears

Uses a more formal and descriptive expression for being close to crying.

I could have cried

Expresses the feeling with a conditional statement, indicating the possibility of crying.

I was fighting back tears

Emphasizes the effort to suppress the tears.

I choked back tears

Highlights the physical sensation of preventing oneself from crying.

Tears welled up in my eyes

Focuses on the physical manifestation of impending tears.

I felt a lump in my throat

Describes a common physical sensation associated with sadness.

I was deeply moved

Shifts the focus to the emotional impact rather than the act of crying itself.

I was touched

A simpler expression of being emotionally affected, less specific to crying.

FAQs

What does "I was almost crying" mean?

It means you were very close to crying but didn't actually shed tears. It indicates a strong emotional response to something.

What can I say instead of "I was almost crying"?

You can use alternatives like "I was on the verge of tears", "I was close to tears", or "I could have cried" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "I was almost crying" in formal writing?

It's generally better to avoid using "I was almost crying" in formal writing. More suitable alternatives include "I was deeply moved" or "I found the situation profoundly touching".

How can I use "I was almost crying" effectively in a sentence?

Use it to emphasize a moment of heightened emotion. For example, "I was almost crying when I saw my childhood friend after so many years".