have almost never

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have almost never" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something has rarely occurred or has not happened at all in most instances. Example: "I have almost never seen such a beautiful sunset in my life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I have almost never found it boring.

Yale University

Despite availability of neuroepidemiological data, urban rural differences on neurological diseases have almost never been considered.

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

Such superior energy storage performance and steady electrochemical behaviors under high strain (150% maximum) have almost never been reported before.

Chemical Engineering Journal

Giants owners have almost never made public comments in the midst of a season.

The New York Times - Sports

I passed my test first time but I have almost never driven since.

Independent

I have almost never opened a pickerel and found an empty stomach.

The New Yorker

The financial assistance provisions of bans in other cities have almost never been used.

The Guardian - Money

"And I have almost never seen the correct nozzle on an old burner".

The New York Times

Aspects that have almost never been considered in the published studies, but that are particularly relevant for adverse pregnancy outcomes, are maternally mediated and parent-of-origin effects.

Seminars in Perinatology

LOOKING at Britain's latest jobs data, published last week, it seems Britons have almost never had it so good.

The Economist

In fact, unless it involved pitcher Ken Hill, the franchises have almost never made deals in recent years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have almost never" to emphasize that something is very uncommon but not entirely impossible. It's stronger than simply saying "rarely" or "infrequently".

Common error

Avoid using "have almost never" when the action truly never happens. If something is absolutely impossible, use "never" instead to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have almost never" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically modifying a verb to indicate the frequency, or rather the lack of frequency, with which an action occurs. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this function in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have almost never" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something happens very rarely. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for use across diverse writing contexts, from academic papers to news articles. While the phrase is most commonly found in news and media, its usage also extends to academia and science. When using "have almost never", ensure that it accurately reflects the rarity of the event and is not used in place of "never" when absolute impossibility is meant. Consider alternatives like "have rarely" or "have hardly ever" to fine-tune the degree of infrequency you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have rarely

Replaces "almost never" with "rarely", indicating infrequent occurrence.

have hardly ever

Substitutes "almost never" with "hardly ever", suggesting a slight decrease in frequency.

have seldom

Uses "seldom" instead of "almost never", conveying infrequency in a more formal tone.

have scarcely ever

Employs "scarcely ever" to express a minimal frequency of occurrence.

have virtually never

Replaces "almost" with "virtually", emphasizing the near absence of occurrence.

have practically never

Uses "practically never" to suggest the action is not done in any practical sense.

have not often

Simple substitution to express the action doesn't happen frequently.

have not frequently

Formal way to express the action doesn't happen frequently.

have not commonly

Less common way to say the action doesn't happen frequently.

have notably not

Very formal way to express the action is usually not done.

FAQs

What does "have almost never" mean?

The phrase "have almost never" means that something has happened very few times or hardly at all. It indicates a low frequency of occurrence, suggesting the event is uncommon.

What are some alternatives to "have almost never"?

You can use alternatives like "have rarely", "have hardly ever", or "have seldom" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "have almost never"?

Yes, the phrase "have almost never" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

When should I use "have almost never" versus "have never"?

Use "have almost never" when an event has occurred a few times, but is still very rare. Use "have never" when the event has absolutely not occurred, to emphasize the impossibility.