almost settled

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost settled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or process that is close to being finished or resolved. For example, "The negotiations are almost settled; all that is left is for us to draw up the final paperwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

By the time the heroine of this new book is born, in 1816, the country's future is almost settled.

The New York Times - Books

Decades later, they reconnected for a nervous, three-Martini lunch and by the end of the afternoon it was almost settled that they would move in together.

The Guardian - Books

The Monument Society almost settled on an idea from William Story, an expatriate American sculptor living in Rome, for a Renaissance tower with a statue of Washington in an alcove near the entrance.

The Washington Post

A lightning break instigated by Pererya then almost settled the game for good, only for Rúben Neves to deny Doucouré what would have been a deserved goal with a brilliant tackle.

The Guardian - Sport

Nowadays he's almost settled, living in Prague with his wife and 3-year-old daughter, of whom he said: "Three days, it's good to be away from a child.

The New York Times - Books

Raul Meireles put a header over the bar as Liverpool's attacks became ever more desperate, though the contest was almost settled early when a defensive mix-up gave Alan a brief chance at the other end that he wasted.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The gallery almost settles the brawl, in the mind, between the words "university" and "art".

The New Yorker

All of which would almost settle the matter, but for one little problem: her request does not seem to make much sense.

The New York Times - Magazine

We had a brief stay in the city of Thies before (almost) settling down in the town of Ndioukhane, where we spent the largest portion of our first few weeks.

Princeton University

And he portrayed Mr. Gore as almost settling in to this in-between state, noting that he had gradually gone "from crisis at the beginning to living with it day to day".

The New York Times

In Japan, by all accounts, he lived an almost normal, settled married life.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost settled" to convey a sense of near-completion or resolution, but acknowledge that the situation is not yet final. This is useful in negotiations, planning, and reporting where conveying the current status is important.

Common error

Avoid using "almost settled" interchangeably with "settled". "Almost settled" implies the possibility of changes or setbacks, while "settled" indicates a final and unchangeable state. Be precise to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost settled" functions primarily as a modifier, describing the state of something as being near completion or resolution. It combines an adverb of degree ("almost") with a past participle used as an adjective ("settled"). Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost settled" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, employed to indicate a state of near resolution or completion. While not as common as other similar expressions, it is widely accepted across diverse contexts such as news, science, and sports. To ensure clarity, use "almost settled" when you want to highlight the provisional nature of a situation without implying finality. Keep in mind that related phrases, such as "virtually decided" or "practically settled", can provide subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practically settled

Emphasizes the practical certainty of being settled; suggests it's settled in all meaningful ways.

almost finalized

Focuses on the final stages of completion, implying a formal process is nearing its end.

nearly resolved

Highlights the resolution aspect, suggesting that conflicts or problems are close to being solved.

virtually decided

Indicates a decision has been made to all intents and purposes, with only minor details remaining.

on the verge of agreement

Emphasizes the point of reaching a consensus or contract, suggesting a crucial threshold is approaching.

close to being concluded

Focuses on bringing something to an end, typically referring to discussions, negotiations, or investigations.

essentially arranged

Suggests that the core elements are in place, and only minor adjustments are needed.

all but certain

Highlights the high probability of something happening, suggesting only a remote chance of a different outcome.

nearing completion

Emphasizes the progress towards finishing a task or project, focusing on the final stages.

practically determined

Indicates a situation where a decision or outcome is very likely, considering all practical factors.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost settled" to describe something that is close to being resolved or finalized. For instance, "The details of the agreement are "almost settled"; we just need to review the contract."

What's the difference between "almost settled" and "settled"?

"Almost settled" means that something is very close to being finalized but isn't quite there yet, implying a degree of uncertainty. "Settled" indicates a completed, final resolution with no further changes expected.

What can I say instead of "almost settled"?

Alternatives to "almost settled" include "nearly resolved", "virtually decided", or "practically settled" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "almost settled" in formal writing?

Yes, "almost settled" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to convey that something is near completion but not entirely finalized. For instance, describing the status of a legal agreement or a business negotiation.