nearly done

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly done" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you are close to finishing a task. For example: "I'm nearly done packing my suitcase for my trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fortunately, we were nearly done.

The New York Times - Travel

It was nearly done.

The Guardian - Sport

He is nearly done.

The Guardian - Opinion

We're not nearly done.

The Washington Post

The buying was nearly done.

The Washington Post

Drummond was nearly done with the Olivetti.

The New Yorker

Our work is not nearly done.

The Guardian - Opinion

Andrew Tyrie's work is nearly done.

The Guardian - Business

People seem to think its nearly done.

The Guardian - Sport

They were nearly done with the latest job.

The New York Times

The faucet was in place and nearly done.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly done" to indicate progress and manage expectations, signaling that the task is in its final stages but may still require some attention.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly done" when significant work remains. Overstating progress can lead to disappointment or mistrust if the task is not as close to completion as implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly done" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of near completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly done" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is close to completion. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. Analysis of Ludwig's examples shows it's most frequently found in News & Media, followed by Wiki and Formal & Business contexts, with a neutral tone suitable for diverse situations. Alternatives like "almost finished" or "close to completion" can be used for variety, but it's important to avoid overstating progress to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost finished

Replaces "nearly" with "almost" and "done" with "finished", maintaining the core meaning.

close to completion

Emphasizes the proximity to the completion stage.

virtually complete

Uses "virtually" to highlight that it is practically complete.

practically finished

Similar to 'almost finished', but uses 'practically' for emphasis.

as good as done

An idiomatic expression implying certainty of completion.

on the verge of completion

Highlights being at the very edge of completing something.

drawing to a close

Indicates that something is nearing its end, often used for events or periods.

in the home stretch

An idiomatic phrase suggesting the final part of a race or task.

winding down

Implies a gradual approach to the end.

approaching completion

Formally states that the process is getting closer to being done.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly done" to describe something that is close to being completed. For example, "The project is "nearly done", we just need to finalize the presentation."

What can I say instead of "nearly done"?

You can use alternatives like "almost finished", "close to completion", or "virtually complete" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "nearly done" or "almostly done"?

"Nearly done" is correct. "Almostly done" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in English. Use "almost done" instead.

What's the difference between "nearly done" and "completely finished"?

"Nearly done" implies that there are still some final steps or details to complete. "Completely finished" indicates that the task is entirely finished and requires no further action.