Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
it's almost useless
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesAlternative expressions(20)
virtually worthless
next to useless
hardly beneficial
nearly worthless
effectively useless
of little consequence
inconsequential
virtually ineffective
virtually hopeless
of scant value
of minimal importance
insignificant
are all but worthless
practically worthless
minimal worth
negligible value
little significance
minor importance
completely useless
next to nil
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
At this point in the year, it's almost useless to dissect China's macro data: the Lunar New Year, which came early in 2019, is messing with readings of economic activity again.
News & Media
It's almost useless".
Science
And so unless you're really committed to doing this all the time, and the costs really will be substantial, it's almost useless".
Science
It's almost useless for me as it requires far more bandwidth than the standard browser or iPhone version, which exceeds my (by no means slow) ADSL capacity.
News & Media
As a B2B company, you can definitely use Twitter to find new connections, build influence, and share content, but in terms of directly marketing a product or service, it's almost useless, especially compared to the B2B-specific functionality of LinkedIn.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
If people only knew what the M.E.K. is getting, and how much is going to its bank accounts — and yet it is almost useless for the purposes the Administration intends".
News & Media
Taking oral history can indeed be a satisfactory method of determining the chronology of late 19th-century houses, but earlier than that, it is almost useless.
News & Media
Sculpture looks good in here, though with so much natural light streaming through the windows and so little wall space for hanging it is almost useless for showing anything else.
News & Media
It is almost useless at night, which makes me sad, but presumably that's the price you pay for e-ink.
News & Media
"I could never talk freely or ask him many questions, and the connection was so bad it was almost useless to try to have a conversation," Saunders said.
News & Media
Make it something catchy - it is almost useless making a brilliant club with a boring name!
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Pair this phrase with a specific 'for' or 'at' clause (e.g., "it's almost useless for professional editing") to clarify the scope of the failure.
Common error
Avoid writing "its almost useless". The possessive 'its' has no apostrophe, but here you require the contraction of 'it is', which always needs the apostrophe.
Source & Trust
92%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "it's almost useless" functions as a predicate adjective phrase following a contracted subject-verb ("it's"). The adverb "almost" serves as a modifier to the adjective "useless", mitigating the absolute nature of the claim. In the context of Ludwig examples, it acts as a strong evaluative statement.
Frequent in
News & Media
65%
Science
15%
Wiki
10%
Less common in
Academia
5%
Encyclopedias
3%
Formal & Business
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In conclusion, "it's almost useless" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to highlight severe inefficiency. While Ludwig AI identifies a low count of exact matches for this specific contraction in highly specific queries, the phrase is a staple of journalistic and scientific critique. It effectively signals that while something might still technically function, its practical value is negligible. Writers should be careful to use the correct apostrophe to avoid common possessive errors and can confidently apply this phrase in most professional or neutral writing contexts.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
next to useless
A common idiomatic synonym with identical intensity.
nearly pointless
Focuses on the lack of a clear objective or purpose.
virtually worthless
Suggests the object has zero value or benefit.
practically ineffective
Shifts the focus to a failure in achieving a desired result.
almost of no use
A slightly more formal prepositional construction.
all but futile
Emphasizes the hopelessness of an effort.
essentially redundant
Implies that something is useless because it is unnecessary or repetitive.
largely unhelpful
Often used when referring to advice or assistance that failed.
mostly irrelevant
Indicates that the item lacks significance in the current context.
hardly beneficial
Uses a more understated tone to describe lack of advantage.
FAQs
How to use "it's almost useless" in a sentence?
You can use it as a complete thought or part of a larger observation, such as: "Without the proper data, the new software is and it's almost useless for our needs."
What can I say instead of "it's almost useless"?
You can use alternatives like "nearly pointless", "virtually worthless" or "practically ineffective" depending on whether you are describing a tool, a plan or a result.
Is it correct to say "it's almost useless"?
Yes, it is perfectly correct. It combines the contraction of "it is" with an adverb and an adjective to express a state of being that is very close to total futility.
What is the difference between "it's almost useless" and "it's practically worthless"?
While "it's practically worthless" often refers to financial value or inherent quality, "it's almost useless" focuses more on functionality and performance.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
92%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested