almost never

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost never" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something rarely happens or is true. For example: "I almost never eat fast food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost never.

The New York Times - Sports

This almost never happens.

The New York Times

They almost never touched.

The New Yorker

"And now almost never.

The New Yorker

Almost never corrects them.

The New Yorker

Diplomats almost never go.

The Economist

It almost never happens.

The New York Times

Those almost never work.

Cornell University

I almost never yell.

University of California, Berkeley

He almost never smiles.

The Economist

He almost never cried.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to convey that an event happens so rarely it's nearly nonexistent, "almost never" offers a balance between absolute certainty and acknowledging potential exceptions.

Common error

Avoid using "never" when "almost never" is more accurate. Overstating can undermine your credibility if exceptions exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost never" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency or likelihood of an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. As shown by Ludwig it modifies verbs, adverbs, or adjectives to express a low degree of occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

14%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost never" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase used to express infrequency. As confirmed by Ludwig, it subtly acknowledges rare exceptions while conveying that something is generally unlikely. Its prevalence in news and media, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, indicates its widespread acceptance and usefulness in various communicative contexts. When writing, remember that precision matters: using "almost never" instead of "never" can increase your accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practically never

Very close in meaning, suggesting that something is so infrequent it's as good as never happening.

hardly ever

Emphasizes a slightly stronger sense of infrequency compared to "almost never".

rarely

A single word expressing infrequent occurrence, more concise than "almost never".

scarcely ever

Similar to "hardly ever", indicating something happens only a few times.

infrequently

A more formal way of saying something doesn't happen often.

seldom

A less common but still recognizable synonym for rarely.

almost no time

Focuses on the lack of time something occurs, instead of direct frequency.

on rare occasions

Highlights that something happens only in exceptional circumstances.

not very often

A more explicit and less emphatic way to express infrequency.

once in a blue moon

An idiomatic expression indicating something happens extremely rarely.

FAQs

How can I use "almost never" in a sentence?

You can use "almost never" to describe actions or events that rarely occur, such as "I "almost never" eat fast food" or "It "almost never" rains here in the summer".

What are some alternatives to "almost never"?

Alternatives to "almost never" include "rarely", "hardly ever", "scarcely ever", or "infrequently". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "almost never" and "never"?

Yes, "almost never" indicates that something happens very rarely but is still possible, while "never" implies that something is impossible or has not happened. Using "almost never" acknowledges potential exceptions.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "almost never"?

While less common, starting a sentence with "almost never" is grammatically correct. For example, "Almost never do I see such a blatant disregard for the rules."