I was practically crying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was practically crying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong emotional reaction, often indicating that someone was very close to crying due to feelings of sadness, joy, or frustration. Example: "When I heard the news about my friend's success, I was practically crying from happiness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was practically crying I was so nervous.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The #OscarsSoWhite controversy revealed an academy so out of touch it was practically crying out for an intervention.

Los Angeles Times

This is exactly what I've resisted so far, these phony solutions that really rub your face in what has happened to your body, and I'm practically crying as I pay, when out of the corner of my eye, I catch this reluctant teenager who's been hauled in by her mother, and the sales assistant is saying, "do your friends wear padding then, dear?" And that seems worse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But I should mention that he was practically crying by the end of the interrogation, that his words were spoken in desperation, and that this is a kind of humor I'd be happy to live without.

The New Yorker

A girl I spoke to in line was practically crying over her report.

Vice

I don't know why you're so bitter… You're practically crying!" Defending "Morning Joe," Scarborough said they had compared Trump's rise to notorious Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's.

Huffington Post

"Now, I'm greeted by Pauline Alterman -- she was working for me at the polls -- and Irma Fleischman, and they're practically crying.

The New York Times

The political climate is practically crying out for it, and Dylan's surrealist style is just perfect for highlighting the lunacy of hypocrisy, and debasing conventional wisdom.

The Guardian - Music

It can help the police track bad guys by creating a facial recognition panopticon with technology that is practically crying out to be abused.

TechCrunch

MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Tim Russert were practically crying over it Tuesday night as they made the nomination victory call.

Huffington Post

The actor/director/scholar/artist/writer is practically crying out for you to notice him with his latest Instagram selfie.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an emotional moment, follow "I was practically crying" with a specific reason or context to amplify the emotional impact and provide clarity to the reader. For example: "I was practically crying because I received some excellent news."

Common error

Avoid using "I was practically crying" too frequently in your writing, as it can diminish its emotional impact. Vary your language to describe different levels and types of emotional responses for greater effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was practically crying" functions as a descriptive expression indicating a state of intense emotion, almost to the point of tears. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. It highlights the near occurrence of crying without it actually happening.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was practically crying" effectively communicates a near-tearful state, denoting strong emotions experienced without explicitly stating that crying occurred. Grammatically correct and versatile, it finds common usage across various contexts like news, science, and formal communications. Ludwig AI states that its a usable and grammatically correct statement that expresses a strong emotional reaction. While "I was close to tears" and "I was on the verge of crying" serve as close alternatives, varying your emotional descriptors enhances writing impact. Remember to provide context to amplify the emotion and to avoid overuse. As revealed by Ludwig, this phrase is valid and useful for expressing intense feelings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was close to tears

Indicates being near the point of crying, focusing on the proximity to tears.

I was on the verge of crying

Emphasizes the imminence of crying, highlighting the precarious emotional state.

I almost cried

Highlights the near occurrence of crying, focusing on the action not quite happening.

I nearly cried

Similar to "I almost cried", but with a slightly different nuance of almost giving in to tears.

I was fighting back tears

Focuses on the active effort to suppress crying, showing a struggle against the emotion.

I was trying not to cry

Emphasizes the conscious attempt to avoid crying, highlighting intentional control.

I could have cried

Indicates the potential for crying, expressing the strong emotional impact.

Tears welled up in my eyes

Describes the physical manifestation of impending tears, focusing on the eyes.

I felt like crying

Expresses the sensation and desire to cry, focusing on the internal feeling.

I was moved to tears

Indicates being deeply affected emotionally, to the point of wanting to cry.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "I was practically crying"?

Saying "I was practically crying" means you were very close to tears, experiencing strong emotions such as sadness, joy, or frustration. It indicates a high level of emotional intensity without explicitly stating that you cried.

What are some alternatives to "I was practically crying"?

You can use alternatives like "I was close to tears", "I was on the verge of crying", or "I almost cried" to express a similar sentiment.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I was practically crying"?

Yes, "I was practically crying" is grammatically correct. The adverb "practically" modifies the verb "crying", indicating that the action was very near to happening.

How can I use "I was practically crying" in a sentence?

You can use "I was practically crying" to describe a moment of intense emotion. For example: "When I heard the news, "I was practically crying" from happiness."