almost efficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost efficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly effective or functional but not quite at full capacity. Example: "The new software is almost efficient, but it still has some bugs that need to be fixed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Rather like the city it serves, it is massive, sprawling, almost efficient and often charming (those dated-futuristic trains, the uncannily uniform to a northeasterner, anyway friendliness of its workers).

The Economist

In particular, our numerical results demonstrated that Tyler's estimator is an "almost" efficient estimator w.r.t. the CCRB and its estimation accuracy is independent on the value of the shape parameter.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Based on the numerical analysis, we observe that: Regarding the scatter matrix estimation, the robust C-Tyler estimator is an "almost" efficient estimator, even if it is not the most efficient estimator for t-distributed data, in fact when λ increases, the other two estimators achieve better performance.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

While general-purpose hardware is usually the most efficient tool for accomplishing all tasks collectively, it is almost always the least-efficient tool for accomplishing any particular task.

TechCrunch

Results show that HA::638/819 and HA::760 943 were almost equally efficient in targeting centromeres, although they were both less efficient than a construct corresponding to the entire C-terminal domain.

Plosone

The C4 and C5 cleavages however, were reproducible and almost as efficient as the cleavage observed at ES2 in the A6 mRNA (efficiencies of approximately 3% (C4) and 1.8% (C5) in ND7-550 and 4% in the A6).

Plosone

We show, on the one hand, that they are almost as efficient as their sequential counterparts while involving less parameters, and on the other hand that they are more efficient than a residual network with the same number of parameters.

Pattern Recognition Letters

Service at the restaurant is brisk, almost brutally efficient.

The New York Times - Food

Whatever the philosophy, the service is almost absurdly efficient.

The Guardian - Travel

Daniels accepts Prez on his detail but gets the almost invisibly efficient Sydnor in return.

The Guardian

At times they were almost too efficient: we felt increasingly rushed as our meals progressed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost efficient" when you want to convey that something is close to meeting the standard of efficiency but falls slightly short. This can be useful to highlight areas that need improvement or to set realistic expectations.

Common error

Don't use "almost efficient" when describing something that is clearly inefficient or completely ineffective. This phrase implies a near-optimal state, so misusing it can mislead readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost efficient" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically describing the degree to which something possesses the quality of efficiency. It softens the claim of complete efficiency, indicating a near-optimal state. Ludwig AI confirms that it can be used to describe something that is nearly effective or functional but not quite at full capacity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost efficient" serves as a nuanced descriptor, indicating a state close to, but not fully achieving, efficiency. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its prevalence across diverse sources, including scientific journals, news outlets, and business publications, confirms its versatility. While not as common as 'efficient' alone, this phrase offers a valuable tool for conveying a more precise assessment when complete efficiency is not yet attained. Remember to avoid using it for something completely inefficient.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly efficient

Focuses on proximity to being fully efficient.

practically efficient

Emphasizes the practical or real-world aspect of the efficiency.

virtually efficient

Highlights that the efficiency is so close it's as good as real.

close to efficient

A more literal expression of approaching efficiency.

borderline efficient

Suggests the efficiency is at the edge of acceptability.

nearing efficiency

Focuses on the process of becoming efficient.

approaching efficiency

Similar to 'nearing', but more gradual.

not quite efficient

Emphasizes the lack of complete efficiency.

almost effective

Shifts focus from efficiency to general effectiveness, but in an approximate or incomplete sense.

partially efficient

Highlights that only some aspects are efficient.

FAQs

How can "almost efficient" be used in a sentence?

You can use "almost efficient" to describe processes, systems, or individuals that are nearly but not fully efficient. For example: "The new algorithm is "almost efficient", but it still needs some fine-tuning".

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

Alternatives include "nearly efficient", "practically efficient", or "virtually efficient", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is more accurate: "almost efficient" or "highly efficient"?

"Highly efficient" suggests a very effective and productive state, whereas "almost efficient" implies a near-optimal state that still has room for improvement. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual level of efficiency.

Is there a negative connotation to using "almost efficient"?

While not inherently negative, using "almost efficient" can suggest that there are shortcomings or areas that need improvement. It's often used to temper expectations or to highlight that while progress has been made, the goal hasn't been completely achieved.