ever so close

USAGE SUMMARY

"ever so close" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to refer to something that is very near but not quite there. For example, "We were ever so close to winning the championship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Man is ever so close to success.

The Economist

Once again, she came ever so close to winning.

The New York Times - Sports

It's cheery if ever so close to antiseptic.

The New York Times - Food

Bourque is ever so close to his first.

The New York Times - Sports

Fate carries him ever so close to the prize and then veers away.

The New York Times - Sports

The Toffees came ever so close to breaking into the top four last season under Roberto Martinez.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Right: how much do I owe you for the petrol?" "Ah, yes, hello my pretty, hello my pretty darling, won't you get ever so closer to me, my pretty little darling, please, Daddy's hearing isn't so good these days, and: my, don't we smell just delightful, haven't we got a musk, my my my, yes, very pretty, very pretty indeed.

Vice

Their hero was, of course, a battered Eli Manning, although he was as much a tackling dummy as a quarterback, and the little-known special teams player Jaquian Williams, who George Willis writes in The Post was ever-so close to giving up on football entirely in college.

The New York Times

On his fourth attempt, Murray served to the left of Djokovic, his retrun ever-so-close to the baseline, but it was in.

Independent

Listening to Paterno, one can tell that he feels he is ever-so-close to recapturing the magic: a victory here, a recruit there, and Penn State will storm back to glory next year and he can ride off in triumph.

The New York Times - Sports

Though cocaine-fuelled GDP stats will in theory reduce the subsidies Italy is entitled to, it will at least push ever-so-closer to (though still very far from) meeting euro-zone rules on government indebtedness and deficits.Insee, France's statistical body, estimates that the ESA's update will lead to an increase in French GDP of 3.2%— equivalent to a couple of years' growth at current rates.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ever so close" to add a touch of emphasis when describing something that narrowly misses a target or goal. It conveys a sense of anticipation and slight disappointment.

Common error

Avoid using "ever so close" to describe actions that have already been completed. It's more appropriate for situations where success was nearly achieved but ultimately not realized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever so close" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the degree to which something approaches a particular state or outcome. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it often modifies verbs or adjectives to highlight a narrow margin or near success.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ever so close" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for describing situations where something nearly achieves a goal, often implying a touch of disappointment or near-miss. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for diverse contexts such as news, media, and casual conversations. Ludwig's examples highlight its prevalence in reputable sources like The New York Times, The Independent, and The Economist. When using "ever so close", ensure it describes actions that almost reached completion rather than those already accomplished. Alternatives include "almost there" and "on the verge of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost there

Emphasizes reaching a goal or destination soon.

on the verge of

Highlights being at the very edge of a significant event or achievement.

within reach

Focuses on the attainability of something.

nearing completion

Specifically relates to projects or tasks that are nearly finished.

just around the corner

Indicates that something is imminent or will happen very soon.

in sight

Suggests that a goal or objective can be seen and is close to being achieved.

on the horizon

Implies that something is approaching and will soon be realized.

nearly attained

Highlights the almost complete achievement of something.

a hair's breadth away

Emphasizes the small distance remaining to reach a goal.

within spitting distance

Informal way of saying something is very near.

FAQs

How can I use "ever so close" in a sentence?

You can use "ever so close" to describe situations where someone or something almost achieved a goal. For instance, "The team was "almost there", but they were defeated in the final seconds".

What are some alternatives to "ever so close"?

Alternatives include "almost there", "on the verge of", or "within reach", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "ever so close" formal or informal?

"Ever so close" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it may lean slightly towards the informal due to the use of "so".

What's the difference between "ever so close" and "nearly there"?

While both indicate proximity, "ever so close" adds a touch of wistfulness or near-miss, whereas "nearly there" is a more straightforward statement of progress.