nearly fail

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly fail" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone comes close to failing but ultimately does not. Example: "She nearly failed the exam but managed to pass with a last-minute study session." Alternative expressions include "almost fail" and "close to failing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Words nearly fail me on this," he told the Guardian.

The Guardian - Books

For a higher noise level, p = 0.7, the NR-Network can still obtain achievable results while the FLBP and NRLBPs nearly fail to work.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Lenders that nearly fail the tests will be put on a critical watch list in case they deteriorate further, the document says.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The experiment nearly failed.

The New York Times

Last Wednesday I nearly failed.

The New York Times

The show nearly failed.

The New York Times

And for that reason, it nearly failed.

The New York Times - Books

He nearly failed to qualify for this year's world championships.

The Guardian - Sport

It was Mr. Wexner's marketing genius that turned a nearly failed business into a success.

The New York Times

She nearly failed to qualify for the last three jumps in the final.

The New York Times - Sports

Sunni Arabs largely voted against the Constitution, and it nearly failed as a result.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly fail" to convey a sense of tension and the possibility of a negative outcome that was ultimately avoided. It adds drama and emphasizes the precariousness of the situation.

Common error

While "nearly fail" is acceptable, excessive use can sound repetitive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "almost falter" or "narrowly avoid failure" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly fail" functions as a verbal phrase within a sentence, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate the state of being close to failure. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Its presence illustrates a situation where failure was a distinct possibility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly fail" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a situation that almost resulted in failure. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it conveys a sense of potential risk and precariousness. While usable in different contexts, it's important to vary your phrasing to prevent repetition. Common alternatives include "almost falter" or "narrowly avoid failure". Its register is neutral, and authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian demonstrate its acceptance in standard English. Considering its frequency of usage in media and scientific outlets, being aware of this phrase provides an extra linguistic tool to be employed in both speech and writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come close to failing

More verbose, but explicitly states the proximity to failure.

narrowly avoid failure

Emphasizes the avoidance of failure by a small margin.

almost falter

Replaces "fail" with "falter", suggesting a temporary loss of strength or momentum.

teeter on the brink of failure

Suggests instability and being close to the edge of failure.

almost collapse

Replaces "fail" with "collapse", indicating a sudden loss of function.

verge on collapse

Implies a potential breakdown or disintegration.

barely succeed

Focuses on the success, but highlights how close it was to failure.

scrape by

Suggests achieving the minimum necessary to avoid failure.

almost miss the mark

Shifts the metaphor to targeting, indicating a near miss.

fall just short of success

Highlights the lack of complete achievement.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly fail" to describe a situation where someone or something comes very close to failing, but ultimately succeeds or avoids failure. For example, "The business "nearly failed" due to the economic downturn, but managed to recover."

What can I say instead of "nearly fail"?

You can use alternatives like "almost falter", "come close to failing", or "narrowly avoid failure" depending on the specific context.

Is "nearly fail" the same as "almost fail"?

While "nearly fail" and "almost fail" are very similar and often interchangeable, "nearly fail" can sometimes imply a slightly greater degree of risk or precariousness than "almost fail".

Which is correct, "nearly fail" or "near to fail"?

"Nearly fail" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Near to fail" is grammatically awkward and not typically used. It's better to use "close to failing" instead.