nearly exactly

USAGE SUMMARY

'nearly exactly' is technically correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to express that something is almost, but not quite, exact. For example: "We arrived nearly exactly on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

They started not only madly in love, but also nearly exactly alike.

The New York Times - Style

But the compounding principle is nearly exactly the same; the only difference is the number of times your thumb hits the space bar.

The Economist

"One shot in our movie, where the Statue of Liberty comes out of the snow, is nearly exactly the same," he said.

The New Yorker

It was nearly exactly a year ago, and I was out on tour with my novel Homeland, which tells the story of a group of young people who come into possession of a large trove of government leaks that detail a series of illegal programmes through which supposedly democratic governments spy on people by compromising their computers.

The Guardian - Tech

The experience here is repeated nearly exactly, and the space is almost identical to Pat's.

BBC

Coincidentally, these specs match up nearly exactly to those leaked alongside the original Vigor pictures.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Her shell was nearly circular, almost exactly the size of a manhole cover, with an unexpected concavity on her left side.

The New York Times

A crowd of nearly 700 was almost exactly their second tier average since leaving Craven Cottage and considerably more than would have graced The Hive with their presence for the same fixture.

The Guardian - Sport

But nearly nothing is known about exactly what practices prompted the investigations.What has probably happened is that Mr Spitzer and the Department of Justice have been dragged into a massive public row between the music industry and Apple, a computer-maker which has 83% of the market for music downloads through its iPod music players and iTunes download service.

The Economist

It comprises 32 percent of the country's total land mass, nearly 53208 square miles, almost exactly the size of North Carolina in the United States and slightly larger than Greece.

Wikipedia

My 'New York problem' is redoubled underground, where so little has changed, where nearly everything exactly resembles its 1970s self (even if I don't).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly exactly" when you want to convey a high degree of accuracy without claiming absolute precision. It acknowledges a slight deviation while emphasizing closeness.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly exactly" when absolute precision is required. In scientific or mathematical contexts where exactness is crucial, opt for more precise language or measurements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly exactly" functions as an adverbial modifier, qualifying the degree to which something is exact. It indicates approximation but emphasizes a high level of precision. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

44%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly exactly" serves as a useful adverbial modifier to express a high degree of approximation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific writing. While alternatives like ""almost precisely"" and ""virtually precisely"" exist, "nearly exactly" provides a specific nuance that balances accuracy with acknowledgment of slight deviation. When aiming for precision in your writing, "nearly exactly" is a reliable choice, provided absolute exactness isn't paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost precisely

Emphasizes the approximation being very close to the exact point.

virtually precisely

Highlights the practical equivalence, even if not mathematically exact.

practically identical

Shifts focus to the similarity rather than the degree of approximation.

in effect the same

Focuses on the outcome or result being equivalent.

close to perfect

Emphasizes the high degree of accuracy achieved.

effectively the same

Highlights the functional equivalence, overlooking minor differences.

approximating perfectly

Focuses on approaching perfect accuracy.

near enough to perfect

Implies a degree of acceptability despite a small margin of error.

almost the spitting image

Emphasizes that the approximation is visually close

very close to

This phrase is very direct and simply indicates that something is very close to a specific target or requirement

FAQs

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

"Nearly exactly" indicates close approximation. For example, "The measurements were "nearly exactly" the same as the previous experiment".

What are some alternatives to "nearly exactly"?

Alternatives include "almost precisely", "virtually precisely", or "practically identical", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "nearly exactly"?

While "nearly" and "exactly" might seem contradictory, the phrase emphasizes a high degree of approximation. It's used to convey that something is very close to being exact, acknowledging a slight deviation. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Which is correct, "nearly exactly" or "almost exactly"?

Both "nearly exactly" and "almost exactly" are acceptable. The choice depends on personal preference, though "almost exactly" might be slightly more common in everyday speech. Ludwig provides examples for both phrases.