almost a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost a minute" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a time duration that is just short of one minute. Example: "The timer went off after almost a minute, signaling that the food was ready to be taken out of the oven."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(Almost a minute went by).

The New Yorker

After almost a minute of silence, he speaks.

The New Yorker

He was booed for almost a minute non-stop.

The Guardian

The Rangers pulled Lundqvist for an extra attacker with almost a minute left.

The New York Times - Sports

Bieksa was down on the ice for almost a minute, but no penalty was called.

The New York Times - Sports

He came last, and was almost a minute slower than the winner.

The Guardian - Sport

The world record, 26:22.75, by the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, is almost a minute faster.

The New York Times - Sports

His helmet cracked in two places and he was out for almost a minute.

The New York Times - Sports

The band seemed to bask in the booing, which lasted for almost a minute.

The New York Times

It took Mr. Harris, whose mobility is limited, almost a minute to turn off the recorder.

The New York Times

The bear looked and sniffed for almost a minute, trying to decide what she had come across.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When contrasting durations, be specific. For example: "The presentation lasted almost a minute longer than scheduled, causing the next speaker to adjust their time."

Common error

Avoid using "almost a minute" when a more precise duration is readily available and relevant. For example, instead of saying "It took almost a minute," specify "It took 55 seconds" if accuracy is important.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the duration of an action or state. It specifies a period of time close to, but not quite, a full minute. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost a minute" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, primarily within news and media contexts, to denote a time span slightly less than 60 seconds. As Ludwig AI’s analysis reveals, its function is to provide an approximate, readily understandable measure of time, suitable for neutral communication. When using the phrase, strive for precision by specifying the exact number of seconds if that level of detail is important and remember that "nearly a minute" and "just under a minute" serve as effective alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly a minute

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", indicating a close approximation.

just under a minute

Emphasizes that the duration is slightly less than a full minute.

close to a minute

Indicates the duration is in the vicinity of one minute.

approximately a minute

Uses "approximately" for a more formal tone, suggesting an estimated time.

around a minute

Implies a less precise estimate, suitable for informal contexts.

in the vicinity of a minute

Offers a more descriptive way of expressing an approximate time.

not quite a minute

Highlights that the duration is slightly shorter than a full minute.

a fraction less than a minute

More emphatic way to express a duration shorter than one minute.

seconds shy of a minute

Highlights that the duration is only a few seconds less than one minute.

virtually a minute

Emphasizes the closeness to a full minute, while still being less.

FAQs

How can I use "almost a minute" in a sentence?

You can use "almost a minute" to describe a time period slightly less than 60 seconds. For example: "The suspense was palpable as we waited "almost a minute" for the test results."

What are some alternatives to saying "almost a minute"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly a minute", "just under a minute", or "close to a minute" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "almost a minute" or specify the exact number of seconds?

It depends on the context. Use "almost a minute" when an approximate timeframe is sufficient and you want to emphasize the brevity or near-miss aspect. Use the specific number of seconds when precision is important.

What's the difference between "almost a minute" and "about a minute"?

"Almost a minute" implies a duration slightly less than 60 seconds, while "about a minute" is a more general approximation that could be slightly over or under.