almost as good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost as good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare two things, indicating that one is nearly equal in quality or effectiveness to the other. Example: "The sequel was almost as good as the original film, capturing the same magic and excitement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Kuroda was almost as good.

The New York Times - Sports

Almost as good, right?

The New York Times

Vazquez was almost as good Monday.

The New York Times - Sports

And this is almost as good.

The Guardian

Almost as good as cricket, Packer-style.

The Economist

Her other ideas are almost as good.

The New York Times

Wells was almost as good.

The New York Times - Sports

They're almost as good as human friends.

The New York Times

The food is almost as good.

The Guardian - Travel

It's almost as good as Anchorman.

The Guardian

And dinner is almost as good.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost as good" when you want to acknowledge a slight difference in quality or effectiveness while still emphasizing a high degree of similarity. For instance, "While not the original, the cover version was "almost as good"".

Common error

Avoid using "almost as good" when there is a significant difference in quality. Overstating the equivalence can mislead your audience and damage your credibility. Instead, use phrases like "somewhat similar" or "a pale imitation" to better reflect the true relationship between the items being compared.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost as good" functions as a comparative expression. It's used to qualify a noun or situation, indicating that it possesses similar qualities to another, often superior, reference point. Ludwig examples confirm its use in comparisons.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost as good" is a versatile comparative expression used to convey that something is close in quality or effectiveness to something else, typically a recognized standard. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It is most frequently found in News & Media sources and maintains a neutral register. When writing, it's important to avoid overstating equivalence if a substantial difference exists. Consider alternatives like "nearly as good" or "virtually as good" depending on the nuance you wish to convey. The phrase is a useful tool for acknowledging subtle differences while still expressing positive sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly as good

Emphasizes the closeness in quality or effectiveness, with a slight shift in emphasis.

virtually as good

Highlights the practical equivalence, suggesting any difference is negligible.

practically as good

Focuses on the functional similarity, implying the same outcome is achievable.

just about as good

Indicates a very slight degree of inferiority but remaining within acceptable limits.

almost equally good

Stresses the near-identical level of goodness or quality.

close to being as good

A more verbose alternative, expressing the approximation in quality explicitly.

not far from being as good

Emphasizes the small difference between the two items in question.

approaching the same level of quality

A formal way of indicating that something is getting closer to the standard of something else.

a reasonable substitute

Indicates that one thing can be used instead of another without significant loss of quality.

a worthy alternative

Suggests that the alternative is good enough to be considered in place of the original.

FAQs

How can I use "almost as good" in a sentence?

You can use "almost as good" to compare something to something else, indicating it's close in quality but not quite equal. For example, "The sequel was "almost as good" as the original movie", suggesting it was very enjoyable but perhaps lacked some of the original's charm.

What's a good alternative to "almost as good"?

Alternatives include "nearly as good", "virtually as good", or "practically as good". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "just as good" instead of "almost as good"?

While both compare quality, "just as good" implies equal quality, while "almost as good" acknowledges a slight difference. If something is truly indistinguishable in quality, "just as good" is appropriate; otherwise, "almost as good" is more accurate.

What's the difference between "almost as good" and "nearly as good"?

The phrases are very similar. "Nearly as good" emphasizes the small margin of difference, while "almost as good" focuses on the high degree of similarity. The choice is often a matter of personal preference.