almost every year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost every year" is correct and is frequently used in written English.
You would use it when referring to something that happens regularly but not exactly every year. For example: "My family has a reunion almost every year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Something catastrophic happens almost every year.

The New Yorker

This happens almost every year, he added.

The New York Times

The most accursed category, almost every year.

The New Yorker

Increasingly severe drought events will occur almost every year.

Stanford University

Almost every year I go to see a Broadway show.

The New York Times - Arts

The number has varied almost every year since.

The New York Times

Because almost every year, that's going to get you in".

The New York Times

New states were added almost every year until 1931.

The New York Times

She and Jean-Claude go to Koudougou almost every year.

The New York Times

Almost every year, a few medically frail students die.

The New York Times

"I went to playoffs almost every year in minor leagues.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost every year" to indicate a high frequency of occurrence, but acknowledge that there might be exceptions. This adds nuance and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "almost every year" when the event's occurrence is not consistently near-annual. Instead, consider alternatives that reflect the true frequency, such as "many years" or "frequently".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost every year" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate frequency. It specifies how often an action or event occurs, suggesting a high degree of regularity but not absolute certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and used when something happens regularly, but not exactly every year.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

29%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost every year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates a high, but not absolute, frequency of an event's occurrence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate to use when referring to something that happens regularly but not exactly every year. It is versatile and can be used across various contexts, from news reports and academic papers to casual conversation. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure that the described event genuinely occurs with near-annual regularity; otherwise, consider using alternative expressions like ""most years"" or "frequently" for greater accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly every year

Emphasizes the closeness to 'every year' with 'nearly'.

practically every year

Highlights the practical certainty of annual occurrence.

virtually every year

Suggests that for all practical purposes, it happens every year.

most years

Simple substitution emphasizing the majority of years.

the majority of years

Formal way to indicate that something happens in more than half the years.

almost annually

Adverbial form indicating near-annual frequency.

on an almost annual basis

Formal and emphatic way to state near-annual occurrence.

year after year, with few exceptions

Highlights the continuous repetition with a caveat for rare exceptions.

in most annual cycles

Focuses on the cycle and the prevalence within those cycles.

ordinarily each year

Indicates a usual, but not guaranteed, yearly occurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "almost every year" in a sentence?

You can use "almost every year" to describe events that happen regularly but not with absolute certainty. For example, "The river floods "almost every year"".

What are some alternatives to saying "almost every year"?

Alternatives include "nearly every year", "most years", or "practically every year", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "almost every year" in formal writing?

Yes, "almost every year" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might prefer "on an almost annual basis".

What's the difference between "almost every year" and "every year"?

"Every year" implies that something happens without fail, while "almost every year" indicates that it happens regularly but with occasional exceptions. This distinction is important for accuracy.