had nearly been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had nearly been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something almost occurred in the past but did not happen. Example: "The project had nearly been completed when the funding was cut."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The suspect had nearly been captured at the bar.

The New York Times

The salmon's peppered-vinegar reduction had nearly been tamed.

The New York Times - Food

Jennings had nearly been ousted from the doubleelimination tournament yesterday morning when Balsis defeated him.

The New York Times

By then, it had nearly been two years since we invested in EasyResu.me.

The Washington Post

forces to proclaim victory even though they had nearly been annihilated.

The New York Times

She felt that she had nearly been run down in the street by Frances.

The Guardian - Books

Because the species had nearly been wiped out in the state.

The New York Times

There had nearly been a fist-fight during our team's innings, so there was much to discuss.

Independent

Last time we had visited the ballroom, we had nearly been ejected for daring to speak to Jon Bon Jovi.

The New York Times

At one point, he had nearly been overcome by the heat, and had to sit down on the stairs.

The New Yorker

Analysts said this left the company vulnerable to another approach by Sainsbury's, especially as Homebase had nearly been sold.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternatives like "almost was" or "came close to being" for conciseness, depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "had nearly been" in contexts where a simpler construction such as "almost was" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had nearly been" functions as a past perfect construction indicating a state or event that almost occurred or was almost completed in the past. It describes a situation that was close to happening but ultimately did not, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

12%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had nearly been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that something almost happened or was in a state of near-completion in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news reporting and general narratives. While alternatives exist, "had nearly been" provides a specific nuance of potentiality and near-miss. When using this phrase, ensure it fits the desired tone and doesn't lead to unnecessary verbosity. Remember to use simpler constructions when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost was

Replaces "had nearly been" with a more concise phrasing.

came close to being

Emphasizes the proximity to a particular state or outcome.

was close to being

Similar to "came close to being" but slightly less emphatic.

was on the verge of being

Highlights the imminence of a certain state.

practically was

Indicates a very high degree of likelihood, almost to the point of certainty.

virtually was

Similar to "practically was", implying a state that is true in effect, if not in fact.

narrowly avoided being

Focuses on the avoidance of a negative outcome.

just about was

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which something occurred or was achieved.

was within an inch of being

Emphasizes the very small margin.

escaped being by a hair

Highlights the narrowness of the escape.

FAQs

How can I use "had nearly been" in a sentence?

Use "had nearly been" to express that something almost happened or was close to being a certain way. For example, "The project "had nearly been completed" before the funding was cut."

What are some alternatives to "had nearly been"?

Alternatives include "almost was", "came close to being", or "was on the verge of being". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had almost been" grammatically correct?

"Had almost been" is also grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning, but "had nearly been" often emphasizes a sense of anticipation or near-miss more strongly.

When should I use "had nearly been" instead of "was almost"?

Use "had nearly been" when you want to highlight the process or the time leading up to the near-occurrence. "Was almost" is more direct and suitable when the focus is simply on the potential outcome. For example, "The building "was almost destroyed" by the fire" vs. "The building "had nearly been destroyed", but firefighters arrived in time".