almost riskless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost riskless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that carries very little risk or danger, suggesting a high level of safety. Example: "Investing in government bonds is considered almost riskless compared to stocks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

IN JANUARY 2007 the world looked almost riskless.

The Economist

The appeal of the senior tranches of the subprime CDOs was that they claimed to be almost riskless compared to USTs but paid more.

The Economist

Money-market funds have long provided the safety and accessibility of a checking account with slightly higher returns thanks to a strategy of making almost riskless short-term loans.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Normally, trade finance is considered virtually riskless.

The New York Times

Such profits are nearly riskless.

Columbia University

"Until recently, investors have paid little attention to diversifying their portfolios of government bonds of advanced countries, as these bonds were considered virtually riskless," the report warned.

The New York Times

Who isn't happy to take 25 or 30 basis points on a virtually riskless trade?

Forbes

Unlike most private debt contracts, bank liabilities are meant to be riskless; customers assume they can get back 100 cents on the dollar on demand.

The Economist

There's an ice runway near the station, but that doesn't make the trip riskless.

Forbes

Riskless interest rate.

Yale University

They're not riskless.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost riskless" to accurately describe situations where the risk is exceptionally low, but not entirely absent. This avoids overstating the safety of a situation, while still conveying a sense of security.

Common error

Avoid using "almost riskless" when there is a significant degree of risk involved. Overstating the safety can lead to misunderstandings and potential negative consequences if things go wrong.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost riskless" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It qualifies the noun by indicating a state or condition of having minimal or very low risk. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in describing investments and financial products.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost riskless" is a grammatically sound and useful adjective phrase that describes something with very little risk. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in News & Media and Academia, functioning to convey a sense of safety while acknowledging a slight chance of risk. While alternatives like ""virtually risk-free"" exist, "almost riskless" provides a more nuanced description. Remember to use it appropriately, avoiding overstatements of safety in risky situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually risk-free

Emphasizes a level of safety that approaches being completely without risk.

nearly risk-free

Indicates a very low level of risk, close to zero.

practically riskless

Suggests the risk is so small that it can be disregarded in practical terms.

close to risk-free

Highlights that the risk is minimal, though not entirely absent.

almost without risk

Focuses on the absence of risk, while acknowledging a slight possibility.

minimally risky

Uses an adjective to directly express that the level of risk is low.

low-risk

A more concise way of saying that something carries a low level of risk.

relatively safe

Highlights safety in comparison to other more risky options.

generally secure

Emphasizes the security aspect, suggesting a low likelihood of loss or danger.

largely protected

Suggests a high degree of protection against potential risks or losses.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost riskless" to describe scenarios with very low risk. For example, "Investing in government bonds is considered "almost riskless" compared to stocks".

What are some alternatives to "almost riskless"?

Alternatives include "virtually risk-free", "nearly risk-free", or "low-risk", each conveying a slightly different nuance of minimal risk.

Is it correct to say "completely riskless" instead of "almost riskless"?

While "completely riskless" suggests zero risk, "almost riskless" acknowledges a very slight possibility of risk. Using "almost riskless" is often more accurate as very few scenarios are truly without any risk.

What's the difference between "almost riskless" and "risk-averse"?

"Almost riskless" describes an activity or investment with minimal risk, whereas "risk-averse" describes a person's attitude towards risk, indicating they prefer to avoid risks.