almost 3 times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost 3 times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a quantity that is nearly three times a certain amount or value. Example: "The new model is almost 3 times more efficient than the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And each year in prison will cost the country almost 3 times as much as that lost year of early childhood education.

The New York Times

The latest Soviet toaster, the ZIB-33 "Toflax" can pop up its black bread almost 3 times higher than the best U.S. model can lift a single slice of Wonder.

The New Yorker

The factor of spin-polarized heavy holes is almost 3 times larger than that of spin-polarized electrons.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Findings of the study show that violations against the children have increased almost 3 times between 2011/12 (n = 54) and 2012/2013 (n = 150).

Children and Youth Services Review

The efficiency of the carbazole derivative based device was almost 3 times higher than the corresponding 1,3-bis 9-carbazolyl benzene based device.

Dyes and Pigments

The interfacial area produced with the impinging-jets cell was almost 3 times larger than in capillary contactors at similar conditions (umix = 0.024 0.19 m/s).

Chemical Engineering Science

At the optimum Bi coverage, an enhancement in the activity of almost 3 times was achieved, and the corresponding activation energy was found to be reduced significantly.

Electrochimica Acta

A new study shows that black rhinos stressed early in their pregnancies are almost 3 times as likely to have male babies as female ones.

Science Magazine

Thus, the LWR of PYZX was almost 3 times the level of P02428, and the CS of the latter was about 2 times greater than the former.

Rice

As can be observed, the simulation time of running the GVFF-DRLS algorithm is almost 3 times of that for running the other algorithms.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Moreover, the Br-SPAEK membrane containing 20 mol% branched monomer possesses the best selectivity, and the value of selectivity is almost 3 times higher than that of L-SPAEK.

Journal of Membrane Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost 3 times", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being multiplied. Clarity is key in quantitative statements.

Common error

Avoid assuming "almost 3 times" implies a precise value. It indicates an approximation, so don't treat it as an exact figure in calculations or analyses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost 3 times" functions as a quantitative expression to indicate an approximate multiplicative relationship. Ludwig AI indicates it is a correct and usable term. It modifies a noun or verb by specifying the approximate magnitude of change or difference.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost 3 times" is a common and correct way to express that a quantity is slightly less than three times another quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable across various contexts. Its primary function is to convey approximate scale and is found frequently in scientific and news reporting. When writing, ensure the base quantity is clear to avoid ambiguity. While "almost 3 times" is widely accepted, alternatives like ""nearly threefold"" or ""approximately three times"" can offer different levels of formality or precision depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly threefold

This phrase is a concise way of saying "almost 3 times", using a single word to convey the multiplication by approximately three.

close to triple

This alternative uses 'triple' to indicate the multiplication by three, maintaining a similar level of precision.

approximately three times

This phrase is a more explicit and formal way of expressing the same quantitative relationship, adding "approximately" for slight imprecision.

roughly three times

Similar to "approximately three times", this uses 'roughly' to indicate an estimated value rather than an exact multiple.

virtually three times

This emphasizes that the multiplier is very close to three, almost but not perfectly so.

just under three times

This alternative highlights that the value is slightly less than three times the original amount.

in the neighborhood of three times

This is a more informal way to express an approximate multiplication by three, suggesting a value that is near but not necessarily exactly three times.

slightly less than triple

This is similar to "just under three times" but uses 'triple' for brevity and implies being a bit below threefold.

around 2.75 times

This gives a more precise numerical estimate while still implying that the value is near three times.

approaching threefold

This suggests that the value is moving towards being three times as much, indicating a trend or direction.

FAQs

How do I use "almost 3 times" in a sentence?

Use "almost 3 times" to indicate that a value is a little less than three times another value. For example, "The new version is "almost 3 times" faster than the old one".

What are some alternatives to saying "almost 3 times"?

Alternatives include "nearly threefold", "close to triple", or "approximately three times". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it more appropriate to use "almost three times" or "nearly threefold" in formal writing?

"Nearly threefold" can be more concise and suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts. However, "almost three times" is also acceptable and widely understood.

How precise is the phrase "almost 3 times"?

The phrase ""almost 3 times"" implies an approximation; it means 'not quite 3 times'. If precision is critical, use a more specific value, such as '2.8 times' or '2.9 times'.