nearly as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly as" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to compare two things, indicating that one is almost equal to the other in some way. Example: "She is nearly as tall as her brother, making them a striking pair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's not nearly as cute".

The New York Times

Suggs is nearly as impressive.

The New York Times

Lurie was nearly as low.

The New Yorker

Nearly as tangled as that last sentence.

The Guardian - Sport

This diddy keyboard is nearly as good.

Independent

Politicians were nearly as great an obstacle.

The Economist

But it accomplished something nearly as improbable.

The New York Times - Sports

They don't hit nearly as much.

The New Yorker

The reality was not nearly as neat.

The New Yorker

The process isn't nearly as simple.

The New Yorker

This game was not nearly as close.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nearly as", ensure you're comparing like items. For example, "This phone is nearly as powerful as a laptop" compares processing capabilities.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly as" in situations where there's no comparison being made. Saying "The project is nearly as complete" without specifying what it's being compared to is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly as" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies adjectives or adverbs, expressing a degree of similarity or approximation between two things. Ludwig examples show its utility in comparisons across different domains. Based on Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly as" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express approximation or similarity between two things. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct to use. Predominantly found in news and media, wiki, and science contexts, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for various writing styles. Related phrases like ""almost as"" and ""virtually as"" offer nuanced alternatives for expressing comparable degrees. When writing, ensure that you are comparing like items and avoid using "nearly as" in absolute statements to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as

Synonymous, indicating a close degree of similarity but not perfect equality.

practically as

Highlights the functional equivalence, implying the difference is negligible in practice.

virtually as

Emphasizes that the difference is so small as to be almost nonexistent.

just about as

Informal synonym indicating a close degree of similarity.

roughly as

Indicates an approximate equivalence, allowing for a greater margin of difference.

approximately as

Similar to roughly as, suggesting an estimated comparison.

comparatively as

Highlights the relative similarity when making a comparison.

not far from being as

More verbose way to express close similarity, suitable for emphasis.

to a similar extent

Formal way to indicate a comparable degree or amount.

approaching the same level of

Focuses on the idea of one thing getting close to another in a specific attribute

FAQs

How can I use "nearly as" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly as" to compare two things, suggesting they are almost equal in a specific quality. For example, "This book is "almost as" interesting as the last one I read".

What's the difference between "nearly as" and "almost as"?

"Nearly as" and "almost as" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. However, "nearly as" might imply a slightly greater degree of approximation than "almost as". You can use "virtually as" or "practically as" to indicate a very close degree of approximation.

Is it always necessary to specify what you're comparing something to when using "nearly as"?

Yes, for clarity, it's generally best to specify what you're comparing. For example, instead of saying "This task is nearly as difficult", say "This task is "approximately as" difficult as the previous one".

What are some alternatives to "nearly as" that I can use in formal writing?

In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "comparatively as", "to a similar extent", or "approaching the same level of".