be nearly equally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be nearly equally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing two or more items that are similar in degree or amount, but not exactly the same. Example: "The two candidates were evaluated, and their qualifications were found to be nearly equally impressive."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Many of the inhibitors evaluated proved to be nearly equally potent against both EL and LPL, but several exhibited moderate to good selectivity for EL.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Examined food remains in nest of kingfisher, found one-tenth of them to be nearly equally divided between berry seeds and the hard parts of grasshoppers.

The New Yorker

The number of science and mathematics courses, the intended grade level of service, and participant college major were also found to be nearly equally distributed between the two groups (see Table 2).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Effects of parental gender are not evident in two of the three scales with mother and father seeming to be nearly equally often rejecting, punishing, controlling, and overprotecting.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Although HER2+ tumors tended to be nearly equally distributed between ER + and ER- tumors, HER2- tumors were predominantly found in those that were ER+.

BMC Women's Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The female students were nearly equally surprised.

The New York Times - Magazine

Findings indicate that program and non-program children were nearly equally likely to be reunified.

Children and Youth Services Review

The total area of 215 square miles (556 square km) is nearly equally apportioned between Florida and Mississippi.

Britannica

For the subject categories, C-E-N were nearly equally represented among EIS, and better represented than H-G.

Ecological Indicators

The Republicans are nearly equally divided over whether to select a nominee whom they agree with on issues or who stands the best chance of defeating Mr. Obama.

The New York Times

At a recent Montgomery town hall meeting about dockless bikes, the 300 attendees were nearly equally divided for and against the program, Erenrich said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be nearly equally", ensure the context clearly defines the aspects being compared. This adds precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be nearly equally" when the items being compared are significantly different. This phrase implies a high degree of similarity, and misusing it can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be nearly equally" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the extent to which two or more things are similar in a particular aspect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable. It highlights a close approximation rather than an exact equality, as shown in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be nearly equally" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that conveys a high degree of similarity or balance between two or more items. Although Ludwig AI identifies it as correct, its frequency is rare. It is predominantly used in science and news domains. When using "be nearly equally", ensure that the items being compared are indeed very similar, clarifying the aspects of comparison for increased precision. Remember that while alternatives like "be almost equivalent" exist, "be nearly equally" specifically emphasizes an almost equal distribution or degree.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be almost equivalent

Emphasizes the near equivalence but doesn't specify the distribution as directly as "equally".

be roughly comparable

Focuses on the comparability of the subjects, indicating they are similar in some aspect.

be approximately the same

Highlights the similarity in quantity or degree, lacking the distribution aspect.

be virtually identical

Suggests a very high degree of similarity, bordering on indistinguishable.

be closely matched

Implies a deliberate pairing or comparison, highlighting the similarity between items.

be practically indistinguishable

Stresses the difficulty in telling the difference, often due to a very close resemblance.

be substantially similar

Indicates a large degree of similarity, though not necessarily exact equivalence.

be on par

Implies the subjects are equal in status or quality, often used in competitive contexts.

be of comparable magnitude

Focuses on the size or extent of the subjects, indicating they are of similar scale.

be fairly alike

Simple expression of similarity without indicating equal distribution.

FAQs

How can I use "be nearly equally" in a sentence?

You can use "be nearly equally" to describe two or more things that are almost the same in amount, size, or importance. For example, "The two candidates "were nearly equally" qualified for the position".

What are some alternatives to "be nearly equally"?

Alternatives include "be almost equivalent", "be roughly comparable", or "be approximately the same". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "be nearly equal" or "be nearly equally"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "be nearly equally" is often used when you want to emphasize the distribution or balance between the compared items, not just their overall similarity. For example, "The resources "were nearly equally distributed"".

What's the difference between "be nearly equally" and "be exactly equal"?

"Be exactly equal" indicates a perfect match, while "be nearly equally" suggests a close but not perfect similarity. The choice depends on the level of precision required in your description.