it almost did

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it almost did" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something nearly happened or was close to occurring but ultimately did not. Example: "I thought the project would fail, but it almost did until we made some last-minute changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It almost did.

The New York Times - Sports

And it almost did.

The New York Times

It almost did again.

The New York Times - Arts

It almost did not get shown, either.

The New York Times

It almost did happen here".

The New York Times

And it almost did not happen.

The New York Times - Sports

But it almost did not open.

The New York Times - Arts

It almost did for Bodine today.

The New York Times - Sports

It almost did not happen that way.

The New York Times

Well, it almost did, except for the absence of a single plant name in Voynich.

The New Yorker

"I am a strong person and it almost did me in," she said of the rape.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "it almost did" with a reason or explanation to add depth. For example, "The company almost went bankrupt; it almost did until a major investor stepped in."

Common error

Avoid using "it almost did" without providing the audience with the necessary context to understand what 'it' refers to. Make sure the antecedent is clear to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it almost did" functions as a concise way to indicate that something nearly happened or was on the verge of occurring but ultimately did not. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sports

18%

General Conversation

10%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it almost did" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that something nearly happened. Ludwig AI validates its usage, showing its presence across diverse contexts like news, sports, and general conversation. While versatile, ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "it nearly occurred". This phrase effectively conveys near misses and narrowly avoided outcomes, adding depth and suspense to narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it nearly happened

This alternative focuses on the happening or occurrence of an event.

it practically happened

This alternative emphasizes the extent to which something was close to occurring.

it was a close call

This alternative highlights the narrow margin by which something was avoided.

it came very close

This alternative underscores the proximity to the event's occurrence.

it was touch and go

This alternative suggests a precarious or uncertain situation.

it skirted disaster

This alternative emphasizes avoiding a negative outcome or calamity.

it narrowly missed

This alternative focuses on the act of just avoiding something.

it was on the verge

This alternative conveys the imminence of an event or situation.

it only just missed

This alternative emphasizes how narrowly something was avoided, usually a negative outcome.

it was a hair's breadth away

This alternative vividly illustrates how close something was to happening, evoking a sense of suspense.

FAQs

How can I use "it almost did" in a sentence?

Use "it almost did" to indicate that something nearly happened or was close to occurring, but ultimately did not. For example: "The team almost lost the game; "it almost did" until the last minute goal."

What's a more formal way to say "it almost did"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "it nearly occurred" or "it was on the verge of happening". These options maintain the same meaning but sound more sophisticated.

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "it almost did"?

While grammatically correct, using "it almost did" without clear context can lead to confusion. Ensure the 'it' and 'did' are easily understood from the surrounding text to avoid ambiguity. If the context is not clear, consider using more descriptive alternatives.

What can I say instead of "it almost did" to emphasize a narrow escape?

To emphasize a narrow escape, use phrases like "it was a close call" or "it narrowly missed". These alternatives highlight the precariousness of the situation and how close a negative outcome was.