is close to useless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is close to useless" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is nearly ineffective or not helpful in a particular context. Example: "The new software update is close to useless, as it failed to fix the major bugs we were experiencing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But mathematically, the book is close to useless.

The New York Times - Books

As a contribution to solve our problems, it is close to useless.

The Guardian - Opinion

ANALYSIS: Dangerfield's book is close to useless as autobiography: its anecdotes lack dates and sometimes locations, and it is stingy on domestic and biographical personal details.

The New York Times - Books

The remote is more than a handful, mostly because it has too many buttons, including a keyboard that is close to useless -- the tiny keys are laid out in alphabetical order, not QWERTY style, forcing you to hunt and peck.

The New York Times - Tech

Aside from providing us with a few enduring expressions — a penny for your thoughts, in for a penny, turn up like a bad penny, not worth a red cent, penny-ante, and so on — the coin by itself is close to useless.

The New York Times

It's a huge improvement over the Saffir-Simpson scale, which ranks hurricanes 1 through 5 solely on wind speed but is close to useless in predicting damage.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Her coach, David Leadbetter, who was forced to rebuild her swing around the wrist, said Wie's entire left side was close to useless.

The New York Times - Sports

The hCards are "close to useless," he says, providing just your name (e.g. "Sarah Perez"), and no URL (e.g. facebook.com/sarahperez), let alone a phone number or email address.

TechCrunch

As a guide to actions either man might take in response to the biggest challenges he will face, the debate -- like most of this campaign -- was close to useless.

Huffington Post

If I were a farmer in Iowa or a Las Vegas showgirl, I think my group of must have friends would be close to useless but let's for a minute pretend everyone is just like me.

Huffington Post

Look at the transcripts of the conversations between the cockpit of US Airways flight 1549 and air traffic control on that fateful day and you'll see – the heart turns over at the sight of it – that "time", in this context, is close to being a redundant term, as useless as a map or a bottle of champagne.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is close to useless", consider whether a more precise term might better convey the specific degree and nature of ineffectiveness. For example, instead of stating that "the tool is close to useless", specifying what it can't do makes your writing more informative.

Common error

Avoid using "is close to useless" when something is entirely useless. Overstating the degree of ineffectiveness weakens your argument. If something truly has no value, describe it as "useless" rather than "close to useless".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is close to useless" functions as a predicative adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its state of near ineffectiveness. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating how it qualifies various subjects, from books to economic contributions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

21%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is close to useless" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something that is nearly ineffective or worthless. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts, primarily in news media, science and wikis. While acceptable in most situations, more precise or formal language might be preferred depending on the context. Related alternatives include "is almost worthless" and "is practically ineffective".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is almost worthless

Indicates near worthlessness, implying a slightly stronger negative value than the original phrase.

is practically ineffective

Emphasizes the lack of practical effect, focusing on the functional aspect of uselessness.

is essentially pointless

Highlights the lack of purpose or meaningful outcome, shifting the focus from utility to significance.

is verging on futile

Suggests approaching a state of complete futility, implying a progression towards ineffectiveness.

is nearly unhelpful

Focuses on the lack of assistance or support provided, emphasizing the absence of a positive contribution.

is bordering on ineffective

Highlights the transition to being ineffective and highlights the change in its effect

is not far from being unusable

States that it is nearly not working or practical to be used.

is approaching obsolescence

Suggests a decline in usefulness due to becoming outdated or outmoded.

is barely functional

Indicates minimal functionality, implying that it barely serves its intended purpose.

serves little purpose

Emphasizes the limited value or reason for existence, focusing on the lack of a significant role.

FAQs

How can I use "is close to useless" in a sentence?

You can use "is close to useless" to describe something that is nearly ineffective or not helpful in a particular situation. For example: "The old map "is close to useless" because it doesn't show the new roads."

What are some alternatives to "is close to useless"?

Alternatives include "is almost worthless", "is practically ineffective", or "is essentially pointless". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "is close to useless" instead of simply saying "is useless"?

Use "is close to useless" when something still has some minimal function or value, even if it's very limited. If something is entirely without value or function, then "is useless" is more accurate.

Is "is close to useless" too informal for professional writing?

While "is close to useless" is generally acceptable, consider using a more formal alternative like "is practically ineffective" in professional contexts. The level of formality depends on the specific audience and purpose of your writing.