The phrase "almost afraid of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling of hesitation or fear regarding something, but not to the extent of being fully afraid.
Example: "She was almost afraid of speaking in front of the large audience, but she knew she had to do it."
Alternatives: "slightly fearful of" or "somewhat apprehensive about".
"I think people are almost afraid of getting really involved with their teams, and it's understandable.
With so much in prospect, he is almost afraid of himself.
We admire his courage, his perseverance, his brilliance, but we are almost afraid of his darker self.
I demonstrated this last spring while on my fourth date with a Brazilian woman so beautiful I was almost afraid of her.
This "loyal opposition" seems almost afraid of power; witness, say critics, the curious collapse of its strong presidential campaign in 1994, and Mr Castillo's similar fate.No such fear troubles the neoPANistas typified by Mr Fox.
Before a phrase's high climax, Mr. Webster sometimes pulled up a little, as if almost afraid of his power (which was impressive when he gave it free rein), and his vowels, particularly the umlaut U, were sometimes a little muddy.
This time round "oil" is a word that politicians and officials in both Washington and London are almost afraid to speak, fearful of how it will play in the Arab world.
The imaginary bird seemed so real you were almost afraid to move for fear of disturbing it.
We then moved to the dressing room that was Marilyn Monroe's in 1957 while shooting "The Prince and the Showgirl" and took pictures and a video, silently, almost afraid to break the magic of the moment.
What Mr. Decker means to come through, I think, is that Alfredo and Violetta are almost afraid to acknowledge the implications of their emotions, since she is clearly ill.
As I continued reading, I kept thinking that he had decided to go back into the Marines and was almost afraid to get to the end of the article.
