nearly as much

USAGE SUMMARY

'nearly as much' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'nearly as much' in sentences where you are comparing two similar situations or objects. For example, "I had nearly as much fun at the party as you did."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They don't hit nearly as much.

The New Yorker

Naturally, they aren't nearly as much fun.

The New York Times - Books

Cholesterol in food matters, too, but not nearly as much.

Harvard University

You see that women participate nearly as much as men.

Cornell University

ALA hasn't been studied nearly as much as fish oil.

Harvard University

Germer won't get nearly as much money for Stanford.

Princeton University

Major League Baseball is worth nearly as much.

The Economist

It costs nearly as much as a new Volkswagen.

The New York Times - Magazine

"They don't consume nearly as much as the French".

The New York Times

Greece, by contrast, hasn't attracted nearly as much investment.

The New Yorker

Caldwell listens nearly as much as he talks.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly as much" to highlight a slight difference rather than a large discrepancy. If the difference is significant, consider using phrases like "far less" or "substantially less".

Common error

Avoid using "nearly as much" when there is a substantial difference between the two things being compared. This can mislead the reader into thinking the difference is smaller than it actually is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly as much" functions as an adverbial phrase of degree. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the extent or degree to which something is similar but slightly less than something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly as much" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate a close but not exact similarity in degree or quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely applicable across various contexts. With a high frequency in News & Media and Academic writing, this phrase serves to make comparisons and nuances, where something almost reaches a certain level or amount. Use "nearly as much" to clarify comparisons, emphasizing near-equality rather than substantial difference. Avoid using it when large discrepancies exist to prevent misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as much

Indicates a slightly lesser degree of approximation compared to "nearly as much".

just about as much

Implies a very close approximation, bordering on being equal.

practically as much

Highlights the practical equivalence of two quantities or situations.

virtually as much

Emphasizes that the difference is so small it's almost negligible.

close to as much

Focuses on the proximity of one quantity to another.

not far from as much

Uses a negative construction to express a similar degree of approximation.

much the same amount

Shifts the focus to the sameness of the amount rather than the closeness of approximation.

almost to the same extent

Highlights the degree or scope of something being similar.

roughly the same quantity

Emphasizes the approximate equality in terms of quantity.

comparable amount

Suggests the amount is similar enough to be compared directly.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly as much" to compare two similar quantities or degrees. For example, "She earns "nearly as much" as her brother", indicating their incomes are close.

What are some alternatives to "nearly as much"?

Alternatives include "almost as much", "just about as much", or "practically as much". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "nearly as much" and "just as much"?

"Nearly as much" indicates an approximation that is slightly less, while "just as much" indicates equality. For example, "I enjoyed the book nearly as much as the movie" suggests you liked the book slightly less, whereas "I enjoyed the book just as much as the movie" suggests you liked them equally.

Is it correct to say "not nearly as much"?

Yes, "not "not nearly as much"" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. It indicates a significant difference in quantity or degree. For example, "He does not exercise nearly as much as he should".