had almost stopped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had almost stopped" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something was very close to ceasing or coming to an end, but did not fully do so. Example: "The rain had almost stopped by the time we left the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

My head had almost stopped spinning.

The Guardian

Mr. Gregory said he had almost stopped eating seafood because of the problems.

The New York Times

The sky was heavy and dark, but, surprisingly, the rain had almost stopped.

The New York Times - Sports

Matthews' life had become so solitary he had almost stopped caring what he said, or to whom.

The New Yorker

In some moments you could feel like time had almost stopped and, in reality, I found myself thinking "will this moment pass or not?".

The Guardian

Councils, which had almost stopped adding to their stock, are now building almost 3,000 homes a year.Council-house building is the "sleeping giant" of the housing sector, says Toby Lloyd of Shelter, a charity.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Privatisation has almost stopped.

The Economist

Like Spaniards elsewhere, people here have almost stopped buying houses.

The Guardian

He has almost stopped using anti-inflammatory medication.

The New York Times - Sports

Chinese exports, a mainstay of the economy for the last three decades, have almost stopped growing.

The New York Times

"Chinese pipe exports to the U.S. have almost stopped since the preliminary ruling in September".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "had almost stopped" with stronger verbs or more descriptive phrasing to convey a greater sense of immediacy or impact, such as "nearly ceased" or "ground to a halt".

Common error

Avoid using "had almost stopped" when the action has completely stopped. The phrase indicates incompleteness; using it otherwise is grammatically incorrect and can confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had almost stopped" functions as a verb phrase. It typically describes a state where an action or process was very close to ceasing or terminating. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had almost stopped" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that describes an action or process nearing cessation. It is frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific and formal business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates what was close to stopping and that the action did not completely cease. Alternative phrases include "had nearly stopped" and "was on the verge of stopping".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had nearly stopped

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", offering a slightly more formal alternative with a similar meaning.

had practically stopped

Emphasizes the high degree to which the action or state was approaching cessation.

had all but stopped

A more emphatic way of saying something had almost stopped, suggesting it was very close to stopping entirely.

was on the verge of stopping

Shifts the phrasing to indicate an impending stop, focusing on the imminence of the cessation.

was about to stop

Indicates a slightly more immediate sense of the action coming to a halt.

had slowed to a crawl

Describes a significant reduction in speed or activity, closely implying a near stop.

had come close to stopping

More verbose, but maintains the sense of nearing a complete stop.

had faltered nearly to a halt

Suggests a weakening or unsteady approach to stopping.

had decelerated almost completely

Focuses on the reduction of speed as the primary indicator of the near stop.

had eased to a standstill

Implies a more gentle and gradual cessation of movement or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "had almost stopped" in a sentence?

Use "had almost stopped" to describe an action or state that was close to ceasing but didn't fully stop. For example, "The rain "had almost stopped" when we decided to go for a walk."

What phrases are similar to "had almost stopped"?

Similar phrases include "had nearly stopped", "was on the verge of stopping", or "had practically stopped". Choose the best fit based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "had almost stopped" if something did, in fact, stop?

No, "had almost stopped" implies that the action did not completely cease. If the action stopped entirely, use phrases like "had stopped" or "came to a halt" instead.

What's the difference between "had almost stopped" and "had completely stopped"?

"Had almost stopped" indicates an action was close to stopping but didn't, while "had completely stopped" means the action ceased entirely. The key difference is the completion of the action.