almost no

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost no" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write, "He had almost no interest in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost no one talks.

The New York Times

Almost no one can.

The New York Times

Almost no one did.

The New York Times

There's almost no downside.

The Economist

Well, almost no one.

The New York Times

Almost no one came.

The New York Times - Books

Well, almost no expense.

Independent

Almost no one does.

The New York Times

Almost no sex.

The New Yorker

There's almost no religion.

The New York Times

"Almost no one wants it".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost no", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking. For example, instead of saying "There was almost no food", specify "There was almost no food left after the party".

Common error

Avoid using "almost no" when you mean "very little". "Almost no" indicates a near absence, while "very little" suggests a small quantity. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost no" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a very small quantity or near absence of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It modifies nouns to express scarcity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost no" is a quantifier used to express that something is nearly absent. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and very common in English writing. It's appropriate for neutral registers and frequent in contexts such as news and media and science. When using "almost no", be mindful of specifying what is lacking and avoid using it when "very little" is more appropriate. Alternatives like "hardly any" or "virtually none" can be used for variety, adjusting the degree of emphasis as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly any

Indicates a small amount, similar to "almost no" but potentially implying a slightly greater quantity.

scarcely any

Emphasizes the rarity or lack of something, making it slightly stronger than "almost no".

virtually none

Highlights the near-complete absence of something, similar to "almost no" but with more emphasis on the lack.

next to no

Implies a quantity so small it's practically negligible, similar to "almost no" but more informal.

barely any

Suggests a minimal amount, close to "almost no" in meaning but with a slightly different connotation.

practically no

Indicates that for all practical purposes, something is absent, conveying a similar sense to "almost no".

just about no

An informal way of saying "almost no", suggesting very little or none.

negligible amount of

Focuses on the insignificance of the quantity, offering a more formal alternative to "almost no".

a trickle of

Implies a very small, slow stream of something, less direct than "almost no" but useful in specific contexts.

a paucity of

Highlights the scarcity or deficiency of something, a more formal and emphatic alternative to "almost no".

FAQs

How do I use "almost no" in a sentence?

The phrase "almost no" is used to indicate that there is very little or practically none of something. For example, "There is "almost no traffic" on Sundays" or "He has "almost no experience" in this field".

What can I say instead of "almost no"?

You can use alternatives such as "hardly any", "scarcely any", or "virtually none" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there is almost no" or "there are almost no"?

The choice between "is" and "are" depends on whether the noun following "almost no" is singular or plural. Use "is" with singular nouns (e.g., "There is "almost no doubt"") and "are" with plural nouns (e.g., "There are "almost no trees"").

What is the difference between "almost no" and "not much"?

"Almost no" implies a near absence, suggesting the quantity is extremely small or practically nonexistent. "Not much", on the other hand, suggests a small quantity but doesn't necessarily imply it's close to zero. For example, saying "There's "not much time"" suggests some time remains, whereas "There's "almost no time"" suggests very little time is left.