almost when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost when" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate a near occurrence of an event but it lacks clarity. Example: "I was almost when I realized I had forgotten my keys."

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Or almost when.

The New York Times

"We have to be there almost when they have the syringe in their skin," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

"How could I!" she had protested, laughing almost, when Broughton had asked if she would show herself to him.

The New Yorker

The Argentine was alert, waiting almost, when Real's big defender, Pepe, misjudged an attempted header to clear.

The New York Times - Sports

He spent most of his time outdoors, where he was brave — reckless, almost — when it came to physical activities.

The New Yorker

"It seems trivial almost when your life is on the line to ask the oncologist about having sex.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

(They almost flirt when they scrap).

The New York Times

That feeling evaporates almost instantaneously when you arrive on campus.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Enforcement is almost impossible when faced with this shield".

The Economist

Others looked saddened, and almost fatigued, when asked about it.

The New York Times

"It's almost like when someone passes away.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "almost when" with more precise alternatives like "just as" or "shortly after" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "almost when" excessively, as it can weaken your writing. Aim for more descriptive alternatives that specify the relationship between events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost when" functions as a temporal conjunction, linking two events that occur in close succession. It modifies the timing of the main clause, indicating that the action described nearly coincided with another event. Ludwig examples show this conjunction in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Academia

8%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost when" is used to indicate that two events happened close in time. While common, it's advisable to consider clearer alternatives like "just as" or "nearly when" for improved precision. The phrase is most prevalent in News & Media and Academia contexts. While "almost when" is understandable, Ludwig AI suggests that opting for clearer alternatives can enhance writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly when

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", maintaining the sense of close proximity in time.

practically when

Similar to "almost when", but may place greater emphasis on the near simultaneity.

close to when

Emphasizes the nearness in time of one event to another.

virtually when

Indicates that the events are so close in time that they are effectively simultaneous.

just as

Indicates simultaneous occurrence, emphasizing the immediacy of the events.

as soon as

Highlights the minimal time delay between two events.

shortly after

Specifies that an event happened a brief time following another.

around the time that

Specifies a general period where two events occur, rather than a precise moment.

in the act of

Implies that an action was interrupted or closely followed by another event.

on the verge of

Suggests imminence, that something was about to happen when something else occurred.

FAQs

What does "almost when" mean?

The phrase "almost when" indicates that something happened very close to or nearly at the same time as another event. It suggests a temporal proximity between two occurrences.

What can I say instead of "almost when"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly when", "just as", or "as soon as" depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

Is "almost when" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "almost when" can sound awkward to some. It's generally better to use more precise alternatives such as "just as" or "shortly after" to improve clarity.

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

You can use "almost when" to show that an action or event happened close in time to another, such as: "I was almost ready to leave when the phone rang."