it almost work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it almost work" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "it almost works"? You can use this phrase when indicating that something is close to functioning or being successful, but not quite there yet. Example: "The new software is promising; it almost works as intended, but there are still a few bugs to fix."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It should seem tragic and uncomfortable but somehow the two women's enthusiasm – and Little Edie's vitality in particular – makes it almost work.

Independent

Tiger Woods, having hit three terrible shots in a row, landing himself in the greenside bunker on the par-5 No. 4, tried to intimidate his ball into the hole and it almost work.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This slick tracking shot is a bewitching beckon, so self-aware about its own delicious coyness that it almost works as high camp.

Huffington Post

(Oddly, the editing in the uncensored opening unreleased in the West on its original platform changes the pacing enough that it almost works).

Vice

(Oddly, the editing in the uncensored opening – unreleased in the West on its original platform – changes the pacing enough that it almost works).

Vice

It almost worked.

The New York Times

And it almost worked.

The New York Times - Magazine

And it almost works.

The Guardian - Books

By all accounts, it almost worked.

The New York Times - Books

For a while, it almost works.

The Guardian - Film

It almost works as she beckons a half-hearted pogo to their early hit, "Ladyflash".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct verb form: "it almost works". Remember that "it" is a singular pronoun, requiring a singular verb form.

Common error

Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject. The phrase "it almost work" is incorrect; the correct form is "it almost works". Double-check subject-verb agreement, especially when using adverbs like "almost" that can obscure the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it almost work" functions as a declarative statement, though grammatically incorrect. It attempts to express that something is near functionality but fails to achieve it fully. Ludwig indicates that this phrase violates standard grammar rules, but examples can be found in news media.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it almost work" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form should be "it almost works". Despite its incorrectness, the expression appears in some news and media contexts, aiming to convey that something is near functionality but not fully operational. When writing, ensure that the verb agrees with the subject; therefore, always opt for the grammatically correct ""it almost works"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it nearly works

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", maintaining a similar level of informality and meaning.

it virtually works

Substitutes "almost" with "virtually", suggesting a very close approximation to working correctly.

it practically works

Uses "practically" instead of "almost", implying that it functions in most real-world scenarios, but not entirely.

it comes close to working

Expresses the idea of near success with a slightly more verbose structure.

it is close to working

Similar to "comes close to working" but uses a different verb construction.

it is on the verge of working

Indicates that something is very near to being fully functional.

it borders on working

Implies that something is so close to working that it's almost indistinguishable from a fully functional state.

it is nearing functionality

A more formal way of saying that something is getting closer to working.

it approaches full operation

Suggests that something is in the process of becoming fully operational.

it is approaching working status

Similar to 'approaches full operation' but emphasizes its status.

FAQs

How to properly use "it almost works" in a sentence?

Use "it almost works" to indicate that something is close to functioning or being successful, but not quite there yet. For example, "The prototype is promising; "it almost works", but we still need to fix a few bugs".

What can I say instead of "it almost works"?

You can use alternatives like "it nearly works", "it virtually works", or "it comes close to working", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it almost work" or "it almost works"?

"It almost works" is the grammatically correct form. "It almost work" is an example of subject-verb disagreement and should be avoided in formal writing.

What's the difference between "it almost works" and "it used to work"?

"It almost works" means something is close to functioning now, whereas "it used to work" indicates that something functioned properly in the past but no longer does.