nearly failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something came close to failing but ultimately did not. Example: "During the final exam, I nearly failed due to my lack of preparation, but I managed to pass with a last-minute study session."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 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

Remember the credit crunch of 2008, and how the banks nearly failed?

The Guardian - Tech

Nascar had warned Bowyer and his Richard Childress Racing crew that his car nearly failed inspection after the Richmond race.

The New York Times - Sports

In eight years, Mr Uribe transformed Colombia from a nearly failed state into a safer and more prosperous country.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly failed" to convey a sense of close call or near miss, emphasizing the precariousness of a situation that ultimately did not result in failure. For example: "The company "nearly failed" during the recession, but a new product line saved it."

Common error

Avoid using "nearly failed" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "almost failed" or "came close to failing" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly failed" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverb ("nearly") modifying the verb "failed". It indicates the degree or extent to which something failed, implying that it came very close to complete failure but ultimately did not fully fail. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly failed" is a versatile expression that indicates a situation came close to failure but ultimately did not. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media contexts, as seen by the numerous examples extracted by Ludwig. While acceptable in most settings, consider the specific audience and formality level when choosing between "nearly failed" and alternative phrases like "almost failed" or "narrowly avoided failure". Remember to use it judiciously to avoid repetitive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost failed

Replaces "nearly" with "almost", a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

came close to failing

Uses a verb-based structure to express the nearness of failure.

narrowly avoided failure

Highlights the avoidance of failure by a small margin.

barely succeeded

Focuses on the success aspect but implies the difficulty and closeness of failure.

escaped failure by a whisker

Emphasizes how slight the margin was between success and failure, using an idiomatic expression.

teetered on the brink of failure

Suggests instability and imminent failure that was ultimately averted.

was on the verge of failing

Indicates a high probability of failure that did not materialize.

skirted with disaster

Implies a situation where something came dangerously close to a catastrophic failure.

virtually failed

Conveys that the situation was essentially a failure, though not technically so.

approached failure

Emphasizes the proximity to failure without actually reaching it.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "nearly failed" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "narrowly avoided failure" or "came close to failing but ultimately succeeded". These options maintain the meaning while elevating the tone.

What's the difference between "nearly failed" and "completely failed"?

"Nearly failed" indicates that the subject came close to failure but did not ultimately fail. "Completely failed" means the subject did indeed fail; there was no success. For example, "The project "nearly failed", but was salvaged in the last week" vs. "The project "completely failed" due to poor planning".

Is it always appropriate to use "nearly failed" in professional writing?

While "nearly failed" is generally acceptable, consider your audience and the specific context. For sensitive situations or formal reports, using a more nuanced phrase like "faced significant challenges" might be more appropriate.

What are some idiomatic alternatives to "nearly failed"?

Consider idiomatic expressions like "escaped failure by a whisker" or "teetered on the brink of failure" to add color to your writing. These phrases vividly convey the narrow margin between success and failure.