almost equal

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost equal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean that two things are almost identical in amount/value/quantity, but not quite. For example, "The two teams were almost equal in size, with ten players on each side".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now they are almost equal in number.

Independent

That was almost equal time.

The New York Times

But that's almost equal, isn't it?

The New York Times

Now the parties are almost equal.

The New York Times

administration of either agonist, but almost equal after i.pl.

Pain

Both of the specimens had almost equal energy dissipation capacity.

Engineering Structures

All treated OCCs synthesized an almost equal amount of HA.

Domestic Animal Endocrinology

With an almost equal passion, she loves horses.

The New York Times

I despise and miss him in almost equal measure.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Holmes gives almost equal weight to another one.

The Guardian - Books

He was wonderful and irascible in almost equal measure".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "almost equal" with specific data or metrics whenever possible to enhance clarity and credibility. This can give more strength to your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "almost equal" when the variance significantly impacts the outcome or conclusion. For example, stating that two experimental results are "almost equal" when one is statistically significant and the other is not would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost equal" functions as a modifier indicating a state of near equivalence or similarity. It quantifies the degree to which two or more entities approach, but do not achieve, perfect equality. Ludwig demonstrates its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost equal" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate a near state of equivalence. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and suitable for diverse contexts ranging from scientific reports to news articles. Alternatives like "nearly equivalent" or "roughly comparable" offer slight variations in emphasis. Just be mindful not to use "almost equal" when minor differences drastically impact the result. In conclusion, "almost equal" is a valuable tool for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly equivalent

Emphasizes functional similarity rather than precise numerical equality.

roughly comparable

Highlights that the comparison is not exact but close enough for practical purposes.

virtually identical

Suggests that the differences are so minor as to be negligible.

substantially similar

Indicates a high degree of resemblance, focusing on key characteristics.

closely aligned

Implies that the elements are not the same but share the same trend or direction.

approximates equality

Highlights that the relationship is an estimated and not precise equality.

in the same ballpark

An informal way of saying that two values are close in magnitude.

comparable order

Focuses on the magnitude/power of a measurement more than the specific value.

not far apart

Expresses the idea of closeness or nearness between two values or entities.

in the vicinity of equality

More formal and abstract way to describe values near equality.

FAQs

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

Use "almost equal" to indicate that two values or quantities are very close but not exactly the same. For example, "The two candidates received "nearly equal" votes in the election".

What are some alternatives to saying "almost equal"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "roughly equal", "nearly identical", or "substantially similar" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "almost equal" in formal writing?

Yes, "almost equal" is appropriate for formal writing as long as it accurately reflects the degree of similarity. Ensure that the level of precision is suitable for the context.

What's the difference between "almost equal" and "exactly equal"?

"Almost equal" indicates a small difference exists, whereas "exactly equal" means there is no difference at all. Choose the phrase that accurately represents the relationship between the values you are describing.