it was awfully close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was awfully close" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something was very near to happening or being achieved, often with a sense of relief or surprise. Example: "The game ended in a tie, but it was awfully close; we almost lost in the final seconds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In the exit poll, four in ten voters said the economy was getting better and 88% of those voters went for Mr Obama.Yet it was awfully close.

The Economist

It wasn't the same as seeing my friend Rusty up on the big screen, but it was awfully close.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

If it's not his strongest album, it's awfully close.

The New York Times - Arts

"We looked at the program once and thought, 'You know, it's awfully close to Christmas.

The New York Times

At £169 for the base level Moto G4 it is awfully close to some very good £200-ish smartphones.

The Guardian - Tech

You might want to speak to a labor lawyer, too; if this isn't stealing your tips, it's awfully close.

The New York Times - Magazine

Defending depression of any sort on the grounds that Beethoven suffered from it is awfully close to defending tuberculosis on the grounds that it sharpened John Keats's vision or arguing that you shouldn't clean up violent, drug-ridden neighborhoods because so many brilliant jazzmen came from there.

The New York Times - Books

The Incredible 4G's average Quadrant score was 4098 — understandably not quite as high as the HTC One S (4371) since it sports a more robust spec sheet, but it's awfully close.

TechCrunch

And perhaps I've made a caricature here, but in far too many cases, it's awfully close to the truth -- a truth that would make Jesus weep.

Huffington Post

Brett Todd of PC Gamer US awarded it "Mod of the Month" and wrote, "It doesn't quite have the mysterious allure of the original games, but it's awfully close".

Wikipedia

They're not Fed Ex, but they're awfully close to it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was awfully close" to express a near miss or a situation that almost resulted in a different outcome. It's suitable when conveying a sense of relief or surprise that the undesirable result was avoided.

Common error

While "it was awfully close" is perfectly acceptable, overuse of the word "awfully" can make your writing sound less formal. In professional or academic settings, consider using alternatives like "very", "nearly", or "extremely" to maintain a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was awfully close" functions as an evaluative statement, indicating that a particular outcome or event was narrowly avoided or almost achieved. Ludwig AI indicates that it follows standard grammar rules and is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Social Media

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was awfully close" is used to describe situations where something nearly happened or was narrowly avoided. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, especially in news and media. While "awfully" can be replaced with synonyms like "very" for a more formal tone, the phrase effectively communicates a sense of near proximity and is relatively uncommon in everyday language. This assessment is reinforced by Ludwig which validates the phrase and provides real-world examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was very close

Replaces "awfully" with "very", reducing the intensity of the adverb but maintaining the same core meaning.

it was a near miss

Uses a common idiom to describe a situation where something almost happened but didn't.

it was a close call

Replaces the adverb with a noun, to suggest danger or bad result.

it was narrowly avoided

Shifts the focus to the act of avoiding something, emphasizing the narrowness of the escape.

it was touch and go

Introduces a more descriptive idiomatic expression, emphasizing the uncertainty of the outcome.

it almost happened

Simplifies the phrase to express that something nearly occurred.

it was on the brink

Emphasizes that something was on the edge of occurring, often implying a negative outcome.

it was within a hair's breadth

Uses a more figurative expression to highlight how close something was to happening.

it was just about to happen

Focuses on the imminence of the event, suggesting it was on the verge of occurring.

it nearly came to pass

Uses a more formal and somewhat archaic expression to convey the same meaning.

FAQs

What does "it was awfully close" mean?

The phrase "it was awfully close" means something almost happened or was nearly achieved. It often conveys a sense of relief or surprise that the event did not occur or the goal was almost reached.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it was awfully close"?

You can use "it was awfully close" when describing a situation where something was very near to happening or being achieved, especially when you want to emphasize how narrow the margin was. For example, "The game ended in a tie, but "it was awfully close"; we almost lost in the final seconds."

What are some alternatives to "it was awfully close"?

You can use alternatives like "it was very close", "it was nearly there", or "it was a near miss" depending on the context.

Is "it was awfully close" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was awfully close" is grammatically correct. The word "awfully" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "close", indicating the degree to which something was near.