is nearly always

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is nearly always" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens almost all the time, but not quite always. Example: "The train is nearly always on time, making it a reliable mode of transportation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Their message is nearly always upbeat.

The New York Times

Debt is nearly always dangerous.

The Guardian

The process is nearly always identical.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It is nearly always caused by smoking.

The New York Times

His routine is nearly always the same.

The New York Times - Magazine

The answer is nearly always both.

The New York Times - Books

Off court, he is nearly always polite and soft-spoken.

The New York Times

He is nearly always in immaculate white shirt sleeves.

The New York Times

The view camera is nearly always mounted on a tripod.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Second, sport is nearly always watched live on television.

The Economist

These days, the inner sanctum is nearly always empty.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is nearly always", consider if a more precise quantifier (e.g., "in 90% of cases") would improve clarity, especially in technical or scientific writing.

Common error

Avoid using "is nearly always" when the situation truly warrants a statement of absolute certainty. If something is always the case, using a phrase that suggests less certainty can undermine your credibility. Ensure that "is nearly always" accurately reflects the probability of the event you are describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is nearly always" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It qualifies the statement by indicating a high probability or frequency, but not an absolute certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is nearly always" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express a high degree of probability without implying absolute certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent use in various contexts. It functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement to indicate that it holds true in most cases but allows for exceptions. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, its register is fairly neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal settings, although it appears more frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overstating certainty and ensure that it accurately reflects the probability of the event you are describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is almost always

Replaces "nearly" with "almost", resulting in a very similar meaning and level of emphasis.

is usually

Uses "usually" to indicate that something happens in most cases, but is slightly less emphatic than "nearly always".

is generally

Indicates a common occurrence, similar to "usually", but can also imply a wider scope of applicability.

is frequently

Highlights the high frequency of an event or condition, focusing more on the number of occurrences.

is often

A simpler and more common alternative, suggesting that something happens regularly.

tends to be

Indicates a tendency or inclination towards a particular state or action, rather than a strict frequency.

is, more often than not

A more idiomatic expression emphasizing that something is true or happens more frequently than it does not.

is, in most cases

Specifies that the statement applies to the majority of situations.

is commonly

Highlights the commonality of something, implying widespread occurrence or acceptance.

is largely

Suggests that something is mostly true or applicable, with only minor exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "is nearly always" in a sentence?

The phrase "is nearly always" is used to indicate that something happens most of the time but not every single time. For example, "The train "is nearly always" on time, but there have been a few delays this year".

What are some alternatives to "is nearly always"?

You can use alternatives such as "is almost always", "is usually", or "is generally" to convey a similar meaning, indicating a high probability but not absolute certainty.

Is it correct to say "is nearly always"?

Yes, "is nearly always" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express that something happens in almost all cases. It's a valid way to indicate a high degree of probability without claiming absolute certainty.

What's the difference between "is nearly always" and "is always"?

"Is always" indicates that something happens without any exceptions, while ""is nearly always"" suggests that there might be rare exceptions. The choice depends on the accuracy of your statement and whether exceptions exist.