almost in contact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost in contact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two objects or entities are very close to touching but do not actually make contact. Example: "The two magnets were almost in contact, creating a strong magnetic field between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This is normally achieved by enlarging the heads until they are almost in contact and then joining them with flexible seals.

Britannica

During the RSA, the team identified some locations where bridge abutments are almost in contact with the restraint system.

European Transport Research Review

DHL was graded as '0' (normal; disk height greater than disk space immediately superior), '1' (mild; disk height equal to disk space immediately superior), '2' (moderate; disk height narrowing as compared to disk space immediately superior), and '3' (severe; endplates almost in contact).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Lower body by flexing knee and hip of front leg until knee of rear leg is almost in contact with floor.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"We almost got in contact with a coach over there".

The New York Times - Sports

Remarkably, these special vesicles were almost always in contact with both the chloroplast and the nucleus (Figure 10), even when they were found far from the main body of the nucleus.

Plosone

In a large set of complexes of known structure, we find that covarying pairs of positions are almost always in contact in the three-dimensional structure, provided there are sufficient aligned sequences.

eLife

We find that residue pairs identified using a pseudo-likelihood-based method to covary across protein protein interfaces in the 50S ribosomal unit and 28 additional bacterial protein complexes with known structure are almost always in contact in the complex, provided that the number of aligned sequences is greater than the average length of the two proteins.

eLife

Although some people may find baking soda to be too abrasive for daily use in a toothpaste, it is an ingredient found in some toothpastes approved by the American Dental Association.[4] Also, baking soda dissolves almost instantly in contact with water and saliva, which makes the solution as abrasive as salt water would be.

WikiHow

People also have the p16-ink4a gene, but it seems to play almost no role in contact inhibition of cells.

The New York Times - Science

Once established, the research group almost immediately gets in contact with product teams whose work the research might affect; MSR has contributed to most existing company products.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost in contact" to describe physical proximity when precision is important. For example, in technical or scientific contexts, it clarifies that objects are near but not actually touching, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "almost in contact" when a simple "near" or "close" suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly formal or unnecessarily verbose in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost in contact" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the state of two or more entities being in close proximity but not directly touching. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost in contact" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to describe items or concepts that are close but not touching. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It appears most frequently in scientific, news, and wiki contexts and serves to specify spatial relationships with nuance. While not overly common, its precise meaning makes it valuable in situations where you need to convey proximity without physical connection. Alternatives include phrases like "nearly touching" or "close to touching".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly touching

Focuses on the physical aspect of almost touching.

close to touching

Emphasizes the closeness and imminence of contact.

in close proximity

Highlights the nearness in space or relationship.

on the verge of contact

Stresses the potential for contact in the near future.

about to touch

Indicates an impending action of touching.

in near adjacency

Emphasizes the state of being next to each other.

practically touching

Implies a high degree of closeness, almost to the point of touching.

close to

Shortens the expression while retaining the core meaning of nearness.

adjacent to

Formal term indicating something is next to or adjoining something else.

bordering on

Suggests a conceptual or metaphorical proximity.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost in contact" to describe items that are very close together but not quite touching. For instance, "The two magnets were "almost in contact", creating a strong magnetic field between them."

What are some alternatives to saying "almost in contact"?

Alternatives include "nearly touching", "close to touching", or "in close proximity". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "almost in contact" or "nearly in contact"?

Both "almost in contact" and "nearly in contact" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Almost" might be slightly more common, but either option is acceptable.

Can "almost in contact" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "almost in contact" can be used metaphorically to describe situations where two ideas or entities are very closely related or aligned but not completely the same. For example, "Their opinions were "almost in contact", though they disagreed on minor details."