it almost happens

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it almost happens" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is very close to occurring but does not fully materialize. Example: "Every time I try to finish my project, it almost happens, but then I get distracted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The temptation is there, though, because if they see that Premier League players are getting away with answering the referee or questioning a linesman, then it almost happens spontaneously, because it's an image that's in their mind.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It almost happened, in 1994.

The New York Times

It seemed like it almost happened.

The New York Times - Sports

Four years later, it almost happened again.

The New York Times

It happened to Gorbachev, and it almost happened to Yeltsin".

The New York Times

It almost happened in 2012, but Angela Merkel vetoed it.

The Guardian

And despite our Nocturnalist correspondent's calm, cool demeanor, it seemed it almost happened.

The New York Times

It almost happened in the summer of 2011 and resulted in a credit downgrade.

The New York Times

It almost happened last night, but Ortiz came up a little short.

The New York Times - Sports

I tried to revive it a number of times with Disney and it almost happened on several occasions.

The Guardian

It is an unimaginable prospect for a responsible country, yet it almost happened in 2011 because of the irresponsibility of Congressional Republicans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "it almost happens" with a reason or explanation to provide more context. For example, "It almost happens, but lack of funding prevents the project from launching."

Common error

Avoid using "it almost happened" when the context requires a present tense. "It almost happens" should be used when discussing recurring or potential situations, not solely past events. Be mindful of the overall timeline you are describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it almost happens" functions as a statement indicating that an event or situation nearly occurs but does not fully materialize. It highlights the potential for something to happen without it actually taking place. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it almost happens" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that describes a situation nearing completion or occurrence but not fully materializing. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. Related alternatives include "it nearly happens" and "it comes close to happening". When using this phrase, ensure correct tense agreement and consider the level of suspense or precariousness you want to convey. Common errors involve misuse of tense, so clarity in context is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it nearly happens

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", a synonym with a similar meaning.

it practically happens

Substitutes "almost" with "practically", suggesting a near occurrence.

it virtually happens

Replaces "almost" with "virtually", indicating something happens in effect but not actually.

it comes close to happening

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the closeness of the event.

it is on the verge of happening

Indicates that something is very close to occurring.

it is about to happen

Suggests imminence, though it didn't actually occur.

it was close to happening

Uses past tense to emphasize the near occurrence in the past.

it narrowly happens

Implies something barely occurs.

it skirts happening

Suggests something avoids happening at the last moment.

it threatens to happen

Highlights the potential for something to occur, though it ultimately does not.

FAQs

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

Use "it almost happens" to describe situations that come very close to occurring but ultimately do not. For example, "Every time I try to finish my project, "it almost happens", but then I get distracted."

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

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "it nearly occurs" or "it comes close to materializing". These alternatives provide a similar meaning while maintaining a more professional register.

Which is correct, "it almost happens" or "it almost happened"?

Both phrases are correct but have different uses. "It almost happens" describes something that nearly occurs in the present or as a general possibility, while "it almost happened" refers to a specific event in the past that nearly took place. For example, "It almost happened last night, but I changed my mind."

What can I say instead of "it almost happens" to express a stronger sense of imminence?

To express a stronger sense of imminence, you can use phrases like "it is on the verge of happening" or "it is about to happen". These options emphasize that something is very close to occurring.