at almost the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at almost the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more events that occur very close together in time, but not exactly simultaneously. Example: "The two trains arrived at almost the same time, causing a bit of confusion at the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

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

The New Yorker

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

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

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

The New York Times - Magazine

At almost the same time I daydreamed the murder and its cover-up.

The Guardian

At almost the same time, we basically cut off our relationship with the Pakistanis.

The New York Times

At almost the same time, the poem was discovered in Santiago, by the Neruda Foundation's archivists.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at almost the same time", ensure the context clearly indicates that the events are not perfectly simultaneous, but close enough to be considered related or linked.

Common error

Avoid using "at almost the same time" when the events are truly simultaneous. Use alternatives like "simultaneously" or "concurrently" for events happening at the exact time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at almost the same time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred. It specifies the temporal relationship between two or more events, showing that they happened in close succession, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at almost the same time" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that two or more events occurred in close temporal proximity, but not exactly simultaneously. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While alternatives like "simultaneously" or "concurrently" exist, "at almost the same time" provides a specific nuance when you need to emphasize nearness in time without implying perfect simultaneity. Remember to use this phrase when precision is not critical but the temporal relationship between events is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost simultaneously

Single-word adverb that can replace the entire phrase.

practically simultaneously

Replaces "almost" with "practically", suggesting events are very close to occurring at the exact time.

at roughly the same time

Replaces "almost" with "roughly", suggesting a slightly less precise simultaneity.

at approximately the same time

Substitutes "almost" with "approximately", indicating an estimated simultaneity.

at nearly the same time

Uses "nearly" instead of "almost", implying a close but not exact temporal proximity.

concurrently

A single-word synonym denoting events happening at the same time.

simultaneously

Indicates events happening at exactly the same time, losing the "almost" aspect.

in short succession

Emphasizes the quick sequence of events rather than strict simultaneity.

close together in time

Describes the temporal proximity in a more descriptive manner.

in quick order

Highlights the rapid occurrence of events, focusing on sequence.

FAQs

What does "at almost the same time" mean?

The phrase "at almost the same time" means that two or more events occurred very close to each other in time, but not precisely at the exact instant.

What can I say instead of "at almost the same time"?

You can use alternatives like "at roughly the same time", "nearly simultaneously", or "around the same time" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "at almost the same time"?

While slightly longer than alternatives, "at almost the same time" is not inherently redundant. It provides a nuanced description of temporal proximity, useful when precision is not critical but relatedness is important. Shorter alternatives are fine, if the slightly lower precision is acceptable.

What's the difference between "at almost the same time" and "simultaneously"?

"At almost the same time" indicates events occurring very close together but not exactly together, while "simultaneously" implies events happening at the exact same moment. In practice, "simultaneously" can suggest a closer link between the events than the phrase "at almost the same time".