almost precisely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost precisely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that something is very close to being exact, but not quite there. Example: "The measurements were almost precisely what we expected, with only a slight deviation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The president's question matched almost precisely what Joao was thinking.

The New York Times

For a critic, almost precisely the reverse is encouraged.

The Guardian

This is almost precisely the opposite of the truth.

The Guardian - Books

"What we found was almost precisely the opposite.

The New York Times

We're almost precisely in the same state, government-wise, as we were.

Independent

George Osborne used almost precisely those words when speaking to a Tory party conference.

The Guardian - Money

That the president used almost precisely the same language was hardly a surprise.

The New York Times

Announced attendance at Citi Field is almost precisely at the same level it was last year.

The New York Times

Mussina did that almost precisely over 18 seasons, winning 270 of his 536 career starts.

The New York Times

Twenty-four hours ago today, I was thinking almost precisely: "The well has run dry".

The Guardian - Books

Now looking back, my life path has matched my design almost precisely.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost precisely" to indicate a high degree of accuracy without claiming perfection. This is useful when presenting data or describing events where minor discrepancies may exist, adding a nuance of honesty and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "almost precisely" when the difference is significant. Overstating accuracy can mislead your audience; ensure the "almost" genuinely reflects a minor deviation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost precisely" functions as an adverbial modifier, enhancing the meaning of a verb, adjective, or another adverb by specifying the degree of approximation. Ludwig confirms its usability, showing it indicates nearness to accuracy. For example, 'The president's question matched almost precisely what Joao was thinking.'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost precisely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial modifier that indicates a high degree of accuracy, as validated by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, as Ludwig shows. While it conveys nearness to exactness, it acknowledges a slight deviation and has a neutral tone suitable for a variety of writing styles. Remember to use it when accuracy is high but not absolute, and be mindful of overstating accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly exactly

Focuses on the nearness to being exact, slightly stronger emphasis on approximation.

virtually exactly

Highlights that for all practical purposes, the value is the same.

practically exactly

Similar to 'virtually exactly', emphasizes real-world equivalence despite minor differences.

very nearly

Simple and direct, indicating a close approximation.

close to exactly

Emphasizes proximity and closeness in achieving exactness.

just about exactly

Indicates a slight margin of error but close adherence to the exact value.

approximately exact

Highlights an approximation with the quality of being exact.

almost to the dot

An idiomatic expression emphasizing extreme precision.

pretty much exactly

Colloquial and emphasizes a high degree of precision in a relaxed tone.

in the neighborhood of

Suggests an approximation within a specific range or margin of error.

FAQs

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

Use "almost precisely" to indicate something is very close to being exact, but not perfectly so. For example, "The copy was "almost precisely" a year ago."

What are some alternatives to "almost precisely"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly exactly", "virtually exactly", or "close to exactly" depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it better to say "almost precisely" or "exactly"?

Use "exactly" when something is completely accurate. Use ""almost precisely"" when there's a minor deviation but the difference is negligible. For instance, the answer was "almost precisely" what I thought it will be.

What is the difference between "almost precisely" and "almost exactly"?

Both ""almost precisely"" and "almost exactly" convey a similar meaning: a high degree of accuracy. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, with ""almost precisely"" sounding slightly more formal.