almost true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost true" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is nearly accurate but not entirely so. Example: "While his explanation was almost true, it lacked some important details that changed the overall context."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was almost true.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And it's almost true.

The Guardian - Film

That was almost true.

The New Yorker

How almost true they sometimes almost ring!

The New York Times - Books

That is almost true, but not quite.

The Economist

The same is almost true of Alfa Romeo.

The New York Times

(Almost true. Gervase has four children, but he's not married).

The New York Times - Style

Ford said last month: "I think it's almost true.

The Guardian - Film

"Among the almost great, among the almost true, among the almost honest.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Which leaves us with Harvard Man, the latest almost-true confession from James Toback.

The Guardian

But this is an 'almost true'almost-instinctct'.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost true" when you want to acknowledge that a statement is not 100% accurate but still contains a significant element of truth. It's useful for nuanced discussions where complete accuracy might be unattainable or unnecessary.

Common error

Avoid using "almost true" as a way to deceptively present inaccurate information as factual. Ensure that the 'almost' aspect is clearly understood and not downplayed to mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost true" functions as an adjectival modifier, qualifying a statement or situation. It indicates a state of near-accuracy, suggesting that while not entirely factual, the statement holds a significant degree of truth. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this expression is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost true" serves as a valuable tool for expressing near-accuracy while acknowledging imperfections. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. The phrase sees frequent use in contexts such as News & Media, Science and Formal & Business writing, but it can be also used in Encyclopedias or Informal writing. To ensure effective communication, be mindful of the level of accuracy required and avoid misleading statements by emphasizing the 'almost' aspect. Exploring alternatives like "nearly true" or "virtually true" can add nuance to your expression, but the original phrase does provide a clear statement as is.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly true

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", offering a slight variation in emphasis but maintaining the same core meaning.

virtually true

Emphasizes that something is true in effect, even if not in every detail.

practically true

Indicates that something is true for all practical purposes, despite minor discrepancies.

essentially true

Highlights the fundamental truth of something, even if some aspects are inexact.

basically true

Suggests that the main point is accurate, although minor details may be inaccurate.

largely true

Indicates that the statement is true in most respects or to a great extent.

mostly true

Highlights that the majority of the statement aligns with the truth.

not entirely false

Emphasizes the presence of some truth, even if the entire statement isn't accurate.

approximates the truth

Focuses on the aspect of resemblance to reality, although it isn't perfectly accurate.

borderline true

Suggests being at the limits of veracity, without achieving truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost true" to describe statements that are mostly correct but have some inaccuracies. For example, "His explanation was "almost true", but he missed a key detail".

What phrases can I use instead of "almost true"?

Alternatives to "almost true" include "nearly true", "virtually true", or "practically true", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "almost true" or "partially true"?

Both "almost true" and "partially true" suggest something isn't entirely accurate. "Almost true" implies it's very close to the truth, while "partially true" simply indicates a portion of it is accurate. The best choice depends on the degree of accuracy you want to convey.

What's the difference between "almost true" and "technically true"?

"Almost true" means something is close to being accurate but not completely. "Technically true" means something is true in a strict, literal sense, but might be misleading in its implications.