almost balanced

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost balanced" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means that something is close to being equal or evenly distributed, but not quite there yet. Example: The budget for the event was almost balanced, but we needed to make a few adjustments to fully cover all the expenses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

This year Mr Solbes promises only "almost balanced" accounts.What else can Mr Zapatero do?

The Economist

At the moment, those new infections are almost balanced by 2.1m deaths.

The Economist

It's almost balanced out, and I would have said the same thing before Sept. 11".

The New York Times

Furthermore, Chile's central bank has kept inflation low – it now stands at about 2% – and the budget is almost balanced.

The Guardian - Business

The budget is almost balanced, exports exceed imports, the currency is stable and the IMF issued last year a glowing report.

Independent

The Fed said that while the US economy is almost balanced, it could be knocked of course by global developments and the central bank was closely "monitoring developments abroad".

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Concord itself, with its government workers, is solidly Democratic, but the towns surrounding it are Republican, almost balancing out the county.

The New York Times

Ms Merkel's government topped that up by raising the pension age (gradually, from 65 to 67, starting in 2012), cutting corporate tax rates and almost balancing the federal budget before the crisis knocked it askew.The reforms pushed more people into work and reduced the price of labour (see chart 2), which helped firms take full advantage of the boom in world trade.

The Economist

You could also argue the relative benefits of these weapons might almost balance out these risks; unlike other varieties of legal firearm, no registration system exists for recording and tracing them.

Vice

For the first quarter, greed and fear were almost perfectly balanced.

The New York Times

The results are almost always balanced and satisfying.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost balanced" when you want to show something is close to equilibrium without being there yet. This hints at the possibility of reaching balance in the future or the recent past.

Common error

Avoid using "almost balanced" if the situation is far from equilibrium. This can mislead your audience. Choose a more appropriate phrase, such as "somewhat balanced", if necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost balanced" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It typically modifies a noun, indicating that something is in a state near equilibrium, equality, or even distribution, without being perfectly so. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically correct and useful for conveying nuance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost balanced" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe a state near equilibrium or equality, often with a slight deviation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and finds common use in contexts ranging from science and news to formal business settings. Its precise nuance makes it a valuable tool for indicating approximation. When using "almost balanced", consider the context and the degree of imbalance to ensure it accurately reflects the situation. Related phrases like "nearly balanced" or "virtually balanced" can be used for similar meanings, with subtle differences in emphasis. Be sure to avoid overstating the proximity to balance when the situation is far from equilibrium. Remember, the expression is widely accepted and understood, contributing to its frequent occurrence in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly balanced

Slightly more direct and emphasizes the proximity to being balanced.

virtually balanced

Suggests the balance is so close that it's practically balanced.

practically balanced

Highlights the balance from a practical, real-world perspective.

essentially balanced

Focuses on the fundamental state being balanced, despite minor discrepancies.

close to equilibrium

Uses a more scientific term, "equilibrium", to convey the balanced state.

approaching equilibrium

Emphasizes the movement towards a balanced state.

not far from balanced

A more descriptive way of expressing the nearness to a balanced state.

on the verge of balance

Indicates that the balanced state is imminent.

nearing balance

Similar to 'approaching equilibrium', but more concise.

just about balanced

Highlights the narrow margin by which it's not fully balanced.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost balanced" to describe a state that is close to being equal or even. For example, "The budget was "almost balanced", but some adjustments were still needed."

What are some alternatives to "almost balanced"?

Alternatives to "almost balanced" include "nearly balanced", "virtually balanced", or "close to equilibrium" depending on the specific context.

What does it mean for a budget to be "almost balanced"?

When a budget is "almost balanced", it means that the total income and expenses are very close to being equal, but there might be a small surplus or deficit.

Is it better to say "almost balanced" or "perfectly balanced"?

It depends on the context. Use "perfectly balanced" if the elements are exactly equal. Use "almost balanced" if there's a slight difference or discrepancy.