almost absolutely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost absolutely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong degree of certainty or agreement, while still allowing for a slight margin of doubt. Example: "I am almost absolutely sure that we will meet our deadline this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

In effect, they would remake a Senate that was long run on compromise and gentlemen's agreements into something more like the House, where the majority rules almost absolutely.

The New York Times

The self-assembled nuclei with the chirality sign affected by the shear force of enantiomorphic microvortices are subsequently amplified into almost absolutely chirality-controlled supramolecular gels or nanotubes.

Nature

"In case we brought over the former," he wrote, "it is almost absolutely certain that we would run into the same difficulties as with Furtwängler.

The New York Times - Arts

As neither party received a majority, the bargaining power of the two principal religious parties, the National Religious Party and Aguda Israel, is greater than it has ever been, as the support of both is almost absolutely necessary for either Likud or Labor to form a coalition which would constitute a majority in the Knesset.

The New Yorker

Accordingly, terrorism is almost absolutely wrong (Primoratz 2013: chapter 6).

SEP

However, it almost absolutely guarantees a standard application environment across Android devices.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

In the tie's dying seconds, the result is decided on the basis of Brydon being almost absurdly complimentary about absolutely everybody he encounters, whereas Johnston takes against at least one of recent history's pantomime villains.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Intelligibility between dialects is, however, almost never absolutely complete.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"And if other countries choose to do that, frankly that is almost certainly absolutely necessary if the scourge of people smuggling is to be beaten".

The Guardian

But other readers used that space to make helpful suggestions about how the survey could have been done differently – and they were almost all absolutely correct.

The Guardian

He was able to play off Protestant and Roman Catholic factions of Scottish nobles against each other, and through a group of commissioners known as the Octavians (1596 97), he was able to rule Scotland almost as absolutely as Elizabeth ruled England.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost absolutely" to express a very strong belief or expectation when you want to acknowledge a slight possibility of error or change. This conveys confidence while maintaining nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "almost absolutely" when the situation involves high levels of uncertainty or when definitive statements are inappropriate. Overusing the phrase can weaken your credibility if outcomes frequently contradict your assertions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost absolutely" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective or adverb it modifies. It serves to express a high degree of certainty or near-total agreement, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "almost absolutely" effectively conveys a strong sense of certainty while still acknowledging a slight chance of error. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, especially science and news. While "absolutely" suggests complete certainty, "almost absolutely" provides a nuanced approach, offering confidence with a degree of caution. When aiming for a similar effect, alternatives like "virtually certain" or "nearly certain" can also be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost certainly

Focuses on the likelihood of an event occurring, with minimal doubt.

all but certain

Highlights that only a small chance remains for an alternative outcome.

just about certain

Indicates nearness to complete certainty.

virtually certain

Emphasizes the high probability, nearly eliminating doubt.

nearly certain

Indicates a very high degree of certainty, close to being absolute.

as good as certain

Suggests a level of confidence comparable to certainty.

close to absolute

Emphasizes the proximity to an absolute state or condition.

practically guaranteed

Suggests a very strong assurance, close to a guarantee.

virtually guaranteed

Implies that the outcome is so likely it's as good as guaranteed.

in effect absolute

Highlights the practical equivalence to being absolute, despite not being literally so.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost absolutely" to express near certainty. For example, "I am "almost absolutely sure" that the project will be completed on time."

What are some alternatives to "almost absolutely"?

Alternatives include "virtually certain", "nearly certain", or "almost certainly". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "almost absolutely" redundant?

While "absolutely" implies complete certainty, "almost absolutely" acknowledges a very slight possibility of error or change. This combination can be useful when you want to express strong confidence while maintaining a degree of caution.

Which is more emphatic: "almost absolutely" or "absolutely"?

"Absolutely" is more emphatic, conveying complete certainty. "Almost absolutely" is slightly less forceful, allowing for a minimal margin of error or uncertainty. The choice depends on the level of confidence you want to communicate.