nearly no

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly no" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that there is a very small amount of something. For example, "He had nearly no interest in going to the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nearly no foreign journalists go to Libya.

The New Yorker

We have one dog, nearly no men".

The New York Times - Arts

There is nearly no comparison.

The New York Times - Books

The response was news to nearly no one.

The New Yorker

"Student loans are nearly no risk," she says.

The Guardian - Money

Mr. Gogu said he had no family in America and nearly no social life.

The New York Times

Nuclear power is the only abundant energy source we have that emits nearly no greenhouse gases.

The New Yorker

Because this is comics and nearly no one stays dead, he was resurrected in 2005.

The New York Times

e/11) Nearly no widening.

Insights into Imaging

Moreover, nearly no side-product formation was observed.

EJNMMI Research

Nearly no cysine was found in the hydrolysates (Table 2).

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly no" when you want to emphasize that something is close to being absent or non-existent, but there might be a very small amount present. For instance, "There was nearly no traffic on the road today."

Common error

While "nearly no" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your text sound less professional. Consider using more precise alternatives like "a negligible amount of" or "an insignificant quantity of" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly no" functions as an adverbial modifier that quantifies a noun, indicating a minimal or close-to-zero quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage. It's often used to emphasize scarcity or absence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly no" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier indicating a minimal quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, although slightly more prevalent in scientific and news domains. While generally neutral in register, writers should consider more formal alternatives like "a negligible amount of" for highly formal writing. The phrase effectively emphasizes the scarcity or near absence of something, making it a valuable tool for precise communication. Remember to use "nearly no" when you want to convey that something is close to being absent but may still exist in a very small amount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost no

Indicates a quantity very close to zero, slightly more informal.

practically no

Emphasizes the functional absence of something.

virtually no

Highlights the lack of practical effect or consequence.

hardly any

A more common alternative, indicating a small amount.

scarcely any

Similar to 'hardly any', but slightly more formal.

barely any

Stresses the minimal amount present.

almost none

Focuses on the absence of individual items.

approaching zero

More technical, suitable for scientific contexts.

a negligible amount of

Formal and emphasizes the insignificance of the quantity.

an insignificant quantity of

Highlights that the amount is not worth considering.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly no" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly no" to indicate that something is almost completely absent. For example, "There was "nearly no" evidence to support his claim."

What is a synonym for "nearly no"?

Alternatives to "nearly no" include "almost no", "practically no", and "virtually no". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "nearly no" formal or informal?

"Nearly no" is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. However, for very formal writing, consider alternatives like "a negligible amount of".

What's the difference between "nearly no" and "almost no"?

While "nearly no" and "almost no" are very similar, "nearly no" might suggest an even greater degree of absence than "almost no". The difference is subtle and often negligible.