at least almost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at least almost" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that something didn't quite happen, but was almost successful. For example: She completed the triathlon in record time, at least almost.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

In America, at least, almost everyone is a Moneyballist now.

The Guardian - Books

It would have to identify all (or, at least, almost all) of those infected.

The Economist

Even without the Collingwood comfort blanket he remained calm, outwardly, at least, almost to the end.

The Guardian - Sport

Forty years ago, this might have been, in western Europe at least, almost a political truism.

The Guardian - Books

"Inflation should remain below 2% over all, or at least almost all of the year.

The Guardian - Business

Taylor believes that, for the 20th century at least, almost all the ranking figures now have a worthy monument.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

It sounds almost ridiculously simple, but in my experience, at least, Nuzzel almost always succeeded in surfacing stories that were interesting to me.

TechCrunch

Thus, for every pair of alternatives there is also at least one almost decisive set, since a decisive set is also almost decisive.

BMC Systems Biology

He decided, evidently, to do – at least, officially – almost nothing at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

But acting, for the moment at least, seems almost entirely beyond her.

The New York Times

That meant Van Gundy, at least, was almost sure to be fired.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at least almost" when you want to convey that a condition or state is very close to being met, but not quite there. It softens the statement, indicating near success.

Common error

Avoid stacking too many qualifiers together, as it can dilute your message. Instead of saying "at least almost entirely," consider whether "almost entirely" or "largely" is sufficient to convey your meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at least almost" functions as an adverbial modifier, qualifying the statement it precedes. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to indicate a condition that is nearly, but not fully, met. It offers a degree of approximation or mitigation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at least almost" serves as an adverbial phrase that qualifies a statement by indicating a near approximation. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently employed to express conditions that are close to being fulfilled but not entirely so. Appearing commonly in News & Media, its neutrality makes it widely applicable. Related phrases such as "nearly at least" offer subtle variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure it genuinely adds value by qualifying the statement effectively and prevents the overuse of qualifiers. By following those recommendations, writers can precisely convey their intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly at least

Inverts the order of the words to subtly alter the emphasis.

practically at least

Replaces 'almost' with 'practically', suggesting a slightly higher degree of approximation.

virtually at least

Uses 'virtually' instead of 'almost', implying a near reality.

just about at least

Adds 'just about' for a more colloquial feel, emphasizing how close something is.

almost as a minimum

Rephrases to highlight a minimum requirement that is nearly met.

close to at least

Emphasizes the proximity to a certain condition or state.

approaching at least

Implies a movement or progression toward a minimum.

in the vicinity of at least

Uses a more formal tone, indicating something is nearby a minimum.

not far from at least

Expresses that something is close to a certain minimum, focusing on the small distance.

in the neighborhood of at least

Similar to 'in the vicinity of', but slightly less formal.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "at least almost" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases like "virtually at least" or "practically at least". These options maintain the meaning of "at least almost" but lend a more sophisticated tone to your writing.

Is there a difference between "at least almost" and "almost at least"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "at least almost" emphasizes the 'almost' aspect, whereas inverting it to "almost at least" is less common and can sound slightly awkward. Sticking with "at least almost" is generally preferable.

When is it appropriate to use "at least almost" in a sentence?

"At least almost" is suitable when you want to indicate something is very close to a certain state but hasn't quite reached it. It's a nuanced way of expressing approximation.

What are some alternatives to "at least almost" that don't use the word 'almost'?

You can use phrases such as "nearly at least", "close to at least", or "in the vicinity of at least" to convey a similar sense of near approximation without directly using the word 'almost'.