almost the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe two events or activities that happened or occurred almost simultaneously. For example, I finished my presentation and my colleague finished his at almost the same time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A second officer arrived at almost the same time.

The New York Times

At almost the same time, a military commander, Maj.

The New York Times

They came out at almost the same time, didn't they?

The New Yorker

All of the studied SVM-based predictors had almost the same time and memory requirements.

Gene Reports

At almost the same time, the Denver Nuggets won fifteen in a row.

The New Yorker

The American and Canadian governments tried to introduce the metric system at almost the same time.

The Economist

We both say the F-word at almost the same time.

The New York Times

At almost the same time the railway employés throughout the provinces also will quit work.

The New York Times

The first two practical electric telegraphs appeared at almost the same time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They also point out that Obama's TV ad campaign started at almost the same time.

The New York Times - Magazine

That perception began almost the same time reports of exploding phones began trickling.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost the same time", ensure the context clearly establishes the events being compared and why their timing is relevant. For example, "The two companies launched their products at almost the same time, leading to intense market competition."

Common error

Avoid using "almost the same time" when events are clearly sequential with a significant delay. This phrase implies near-simultaneity, not just any temporal connection. For example, it would be incorrect to say "He submitted the report and, almost the same time, he received a promotion" if a month passed between the events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost the same time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating when an action occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. The examples provided by Ludwig shows various uses of the phrase to describe temporal relations between different events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

35%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost the same time" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express that two or more events occurred in close temporal proximity. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable for use in written English. It is frequently found in diverse sources such as News & Media, Science, and Academia. While seemingly straightforward, subtle differences exist between this phrase and similar expressions. It is important to be mindful of the degree of simultaneity and the context when choosing this expression or an alternative, like "nearly simultaneous" or "around the same time".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost simultaneously

This alternative uses an adverb to directly convey the near-simultaneous occurrence.

close to the same time

Uses simpler language to convey the nearness in timing.

at approximately the same moment

Highlights the exactness of the timing, suggesting events happened very closely together.

nearly simultaneous

Focuses on simultaneity, implying events occur at virtually the same moment.

virtually concurrent

Emphasizes the overlapping nature of the events happening around the same time.

in rapid succession

Emphasizes the quick following of one event after another, happening closely in time.

practically synchronous

Stresses the synchronized nature of the events, suggesting a shared rhythm or timing.

in the same timeframe

Specifies that events happened within a defined duration.

around the same period

Broadens the timeframe slightly, suggesting events occurred within a similar duration.

in proximity of time

Formal and emphasizes the temporal closeness of the events.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost the same time" to indicate that two or more events occurred nearly simultaneously. For instance, "The movie premiered in the US and in Europe at "almost the same time"".

What's a more formal way to say "almost the same time"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "nearly simultaneous", "virtually concurrent", or "at approximately the same moment". These options add a level of precision or sophistication depending on the context.

Is there a subtle difference between "at the same time" and "almost the same time"?

"At the same time" implies simultaneity, whereas "almost the same time" suggests events occurred very close together but not necessarily at the exact same moment. The choice depends on the accuracy you need to convey.

What words are interchangeable with "almost the same time"?

You can often substitute it with phrases like "close to the same time", "around the same time", or "nearly simultaneous" while keeping a similar meaning.