almost the same rate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost the same rate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two or more things that have similar rates or speeds, but not exactly the same. Example: "The two trains travel at almost the same rate, making it difficult to determine which one will arrive first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

The one-liners come at almost the same rate as the cigarettes.

The Guardian

Reservations notwithstanding, low-caste Indians are getting less poor at almost the same rate as the general population.

The Economist

This is almost the same rate as this year's predicted increase in central-government revenue (2.4 trillion yuan is the target).

The Economist

Over 16 years, Jeter has produced at almost the same rate in each spot, with no appreciable difference in his batting average, on-base percentage or slugging numbers.

The New York Times - Sports

"American is burning cash at almost the same rate" as United, said Randy Babbitt, chief executive of Eclat Consulting, an aviation firm, and former president of the nation's biggest pilots' union.

The New York Times

The poll, based on interviews with more than 75,000 Americans this year, also indicated that Americans are thoroughly worldly when it comes to lighting up — they smoke at almost the same rate as the worldwide median.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Borrowing at almost the same rates as the Treasury, they earn a fortune by investing the money in higher-yielding mortgages and mortgage-backed securities.

The Economist

Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves considerable encoding time saving while maintaining almost the same rate-distortion (RD) performance as the original 3D-HEVC encoder.

Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation

Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can significantly reduce computational complexity of 3D-HEVC encoding while maintaining almost the same rate-distortion (RD) performance.

AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications

Almost the same rates of DBF degradation were observed when the starting concentrations were 0.3 mM and 0.5 mM.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

By the age of 15, girls and boys were being diagnosed at almost the same rates and by the age of 24 the figures were reversed, with more women being diagnosed than men.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing trends or changes, use "almost the same rate" to clearly indicate that while the rates are close, they are not exactly identical. This is particularly useful in scientific or statistical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "almost the same rate" when the rates are significantly different. Instead, quantify the difference or use less precise terms like "similar" or "comparable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost the same rate" functions as an adverbial modifier to describe the similarity in speed, frequency, or proportion of two or more entities. This is evidenced by Ludwig, which indicates that the phrase is typically used in comparative contexts to show proximity without exact equivalence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost the same rate" is a useful tool for comparing trends and changes that are close but not identical. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in both scientific and news contexts. When writing, remember that using the phrase implies the rates are not exactly equal, and consider using alternatives like "nearly identical pace" or "roughly equivalent speed" for stylistic variation. Be careful not to use this phrase if the rates are significantly different as it would cause misunderstanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical pace

Replaces "rate" with "pace", emphasizing the speed or progress of something, maintains a high degree of similarity.

roughly equivalent speed

Substitutes "rate" with "speed" and "almost" with "roughly", focusing on velocity or quickness. Introduces a slightly less precise approximation.

virtually the same level

Replaces "rate" with "level", shifting the focus from change over time to a static measure or degree. "Virtually" indicates near, but not complete, equivalence.

practically the same amount

Substitutes "rate" with "amount", altering the context to a quantity instead of a proportion. "Practically" denotes a minor difference.

comparable frequency

Replaces "rate" with "frequency", which is more aligned with rates of occurence. Still very semantically similar.

on par with

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that something is equivalent to the reference object.

in the same ballpark

Uses a different idiomatic expression to convey that something is equivalent to the reference object.

closely aligned rhythm

Substitutes "rate" with "rhythm", shifting to a recurring pattern or flow. The context becomes more artistic or less mathematically precise.

akin to

It means something or someone similar to other thing or person

along the same lines

Introduces a sense of conceptual similarity rather than numerical equivalence.

FAQs

What does "almost the same rate" mean?

The phrase "almost the same rate" means that two or more things are changing or occurring at speeds or frequencies that are very close, but not exactly identical.

How can I use "almost the same rate" in a sentence?

You can use "almost the same rate" when you want to show that something are changing or moving in a very similar manner, like: "Both populations are growing at "almost the same rate"".

What's the difference between "almost the same rate" and "exactly the same rate"?

"Almost the same rate" indicates a minor difference, while "exactly the same rate" implies complete equivalence. Use "almost" to show that the rates aren't perfectly identical, and use "exactly the same rate" when the two rates are equal.

What are some alternatives to "almost the same rate"?

Some alternatives to "almost the same rate" include "nearly identical pace", "roughly equivalent speed", or "virtually the same level".