nearly ideal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly ideal" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is almost perfect, or close to an ideal state. For example, "The weather today is nearly ideal - sunny and not too hot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These solutions have a nearly ideal behaviour; significant departure from ideality appears only at temperature higher than 500°C.

Electrochimica Acta

The NBC-N.B.A. relationship was nearly ideal.

The New York Times - Sports

The Islamic Center of Washington struck him as nearly ideal.

The New York Times

Anthony Dean Griffey, especially, was nearly ideal as Lennie.

The New York Times - Books

This 900-seat theater is nearly ideal for opera.

The New York Times

His 1,350-square-foot 1,350-square-foot 1,350-square-foot.

The New York Times

"That sounds to me like a nearly ideal solution," Joyce said.

The New Yorker

The ringer volume won't exactly wake the dead, but this is otherwise a nearly ideal phone.

The New York Times - Tech

Aside from the issue of slavery, the course suggests, early America was nearly ideal.

The New York Times

Even from the perspective of Jay, the inveterate skeptic, it was a nearly ideal situation.

The New Yorker

Their building was full of young families with children, and they saw the neighborhood's location as nearly ideal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly ideal" when you want to convey that something is excellent and well-suited for its purpose, but you want to acknowledge it may not be absolutely perfect. This adds a nuance of realism and avoids exaggeration.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly ideal" when describing something with significant flaws or shortcomings. Reserve it for situations where the subject is genuinely excellent with only minor imperfections. Otherwise, consider alternatives with lower degree of perfection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly ideal" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun by indicating that it closely approximates an ideal state. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a grammatically correct and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly ideal" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe something that closely approaches a perfect or ideal state, while acknowledging a slight deviation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in both formal and informal contexts. Its usage spans various domains, including news, science, and business, indicating broad applicability. Remember that, while

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost perfect

Focuses on the closeness to perfection, rather than the alignment with an ideal standard.

virtually flawless

Emphasizes the lack of significant imperfections.

practically perfect

Highlights the functionality being as good as perfect for practical use.

close to ideal

Indicates proximity to the ideal state, using a more spatial metaphor.

approaching perfection

Suggests a movement or trajectory towards a perfect state.

nearing perfection

Similar to 'approaching perfection' but implies a slightly further distance from the ideal.

substantially ideal

Focuses on the degree to which the situation, object or result is ideal, with 'substantial' acting as a qualifier.

highly suitable

Emphasizes the appropriateness for a specific purpose.

remarkably fitting

Highlights the unusual or noteworthy quality of being suitable.

effectively ideal

Focuses on the practical outcome, implying the situation is as good as ideal in effect.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly ideal" to describe a situation, object, or characteristic that closely resembles a perfect or ideal state, such as, "The weather conditions were "nearly ideal" for the marathon."

What are some alternatives to "nearly ideal"?

Some alternatives to "nearly ideal" include "almost perfect", "virtually flawless", or "practically perfect", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "nearly ideal" or "almost ideal"?

Both "nearly ideal" and "almost ideal" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them depends on personal preference and the specific context. "Nearly" might imply a slightly closer approximation to the ideal.

What does it mean when something is described as "nearly ideal"?

When something is described as "nearly ideal", it means that it possesses most of the characteristics of an ideal or perfect example, but may have some minor imperfections or fall slightly short of absolute perfection.