nearly every year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly every year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurs almost annually, but not necessarily every single year. Example: "The festival has been held nearly every year since its inception in 2000."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I've spent Christmas here nearly every year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And nearly every year, the state budget ignores those calculations.

The New York Times

The pingos are particularly hazardous as they change position, or migrate, nearly every year.

Engineering Geology

The ability of the system is progressing rapidly and improvements are being introduced nearly every year.

Seminars in Orthodontics

I've returned to Afghanistan nearly every year since then.

The New York Times

There is a Cinderella story nearly every year, but beating George Mason's would be hard.

The New York Times

And he receives one or more of those calls nearly every year.

The New York Times - Sports

Their departures have cost the city thousands of jobs nearly every year for decades.

The New York Times

Marsh continued to sponsor similar parties nearly every year thereafter until his death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nearly every year the Somerset Levels shimmer with shallow lakes that soon drain away.

The Economist

IT IS hardly news that the "Big Four" accounting firms get bigger nearly every year.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly every year" to describe recurring events or trends that happen predictably but may occasionally have exceptions. For example, "The company releases a new product version nearly every year."

Common error

Avoid using "nearly every year" when you mean something happens exactly every year. "Every year" implies no exceptions, while "nearly every year" acknowledges possible deviations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly every year" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the frequency with which an action or event occurs, indicating that it happens almost annually. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

29%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly every year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase. It serves to express that an event or trend occurs with high regularity on a yearly basis, while also acknowledging potential exceptions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly found in neutral to formal contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academic sources. When using "nearly every year", ensure that the event truly happens most years, but not necessarily every single year and remember to consider alternatives like "almost every year", if appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost every year

Simple synonym using 'almost' to convey near-annual occurrence.

practically every year

Replaces 'nearly' with 'practically', suggesting a slightly stronger likelihood but not absolute certainty.

virtually every year

Uses 'virtually' to indicate near-complete frequency, implying very few exceptions.

just about every year

Emphasizes the closeness to 'every year' with a more casual tone.

in most years

Shifts the focus to 'years' rather than the frequency modifier.

the majority of years

More formal and statistically oriented way of saying 'almost every year'.

close to every year

Highlights the proximity to an annual event without absolute assertion.

on average, every year

Implies a pattern based on averages, acknowledging possible variations.

frequently each year

Focuses on the high frequency within each year, rather than the continuity across years.

almost yearly

Combines 'almost' with the adjective 'yearly' for a concise alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly every year" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly every year" to describe an event that occurs almost annually, with only occasional exceptions. For example, "The town experiences flooding "nearly every year" during the rainy season."

What are some alternatives to saying "nearly every year"?

Alternatives include "almost every year", "practically every year", or "virtually every year". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is more accurate, "nearly every year" or "every year"?

"Every year" implies that something happens without fail. "Nearly every year" suggests that it happens most years, but not necessarily all. Choose "nearly every year" if there are occasional exceptions.

What's the difference between "nearly every year" and "most years"?

"Nearly every year" implies a higher frequency than "most years". While both suggest that something happens frequently, "nearly every year" suggests it's closer to being an annual occurrence. If it happens with a frequency of > 80% is better to use "nearly every year".