Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
nearly ok
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"nearly ok" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something is almost acceptable or satisfactory but not quite. Example: "The project is nearly ok, but it needs a few more adjustments." Alternative expressions include "almost fine" and "close to acceptable."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Academia
Science
Alternative expressions(20)
almost satisfactory
close to acceptable
just about adequate
perfectly ok
pretty acceptable
marginally acceptable
passable
sufficient to a degree
pretty good
barely acceptable
barely sufficient
scarcely adequate
good enough
tolerable
serviceable
Barely acceptable
marginally adequate
just passable
scarcely satisfactory
not good enough
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
I've taken risks and then I'm very nearly not OK". He likes to quote Lord Byron: "The great object of life is sensation - to feel that we exist, even though in pain". When the television series was finished, he could not get another academic job in England.
News & Media
If we're not OK with nearly half of American workers slogging through unhappiness at their jobs, what are we going to do about it?
News & Media
OK, we're nearly out of time today, so I definitely think we should end here.
News & Media
This is ok, but not nearly as funny as it would be if the YouTube team broke into the Google search servers and simply redirected Google.com to the video.
News & Media
There are more fawning words posted, from Apprentice fans and (OK, this was nearly a decade ago) real-life people who openly admit to being fans of "The Donald," as if the man himself was ever going to read them.
News & Media
It's not just because physics is a physically brutal and demanding field, it's because he had to prove he'd be OK to spend nearly a year in Antarctica investigating neutrons with the IceCube project at the Admundsen-Scott base in the geographic South Pole.
News & Media
OK, I understand they have nearly 200 paid employees to programme, edit and administer.
News & Media
So, for nearly two years, I pretended I was OK with what had happened.
News & Media
However, the SUS of nearly 56, in the threshold of an "OK" result, suggests that there is still room for improvement.
No wonder that OK has found its way into nearly every language in every country, and beyond.
News & Media
Last year OK had a weekly circulation of nearly 600,000 compared with slightly more than 400,000 for Hello.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "nearly ok" to express a situation that is on the cusp of being acceptable or satisfactory. It's suitable when you want to acknowledge that something is close to meeting expectations but still requires some adjustments or isn't fully approved.
Common error
Avoid using "nearly ok" when the situation is significantly flawed or far from satisfactory. It's important to accurately reflect the degree of acceptability to avoid misleading the audience.
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "nearly ok" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of almost being acceptable or satisfactory. Ludwig shows the phrase used to express something that is close to meeting a certain standard but not quite there.
Frequent in
News & Media
35%
Academia
33%
Science
32%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "nearly ok" serves as a qualifier, indicating that something is approaching acceptability but needs further refinement. While grammatically correct and understandable, its formality is neutral, making it suitable for various contexts but potentially replaceable with more precise terms in professional settings. Ludwig AI underlines the validity and usability of this expression, although its frequency is low. Alternatives like "almost satisfactory" or "close to acceptable" may offer a more polished tone in formal communication.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
almost satisfactory
Emphasizes that the situation or item barely meets the requirements but could be improved.
pretty acceptable
Indicates a level of acceptance that is good but not outstanding.
close to acceptable
Highlights the proximity to meeting a standard, suggesting it's just short of being fully approved.
borderline acceptable
Suggests a precarious position where something barely makes the cut.
just about adequate
Focuses on the bare minimum requirement being met, without any surplus.
marginally acceptable
Highlights the narrow margin by which something is deemed acceptable.
almost good enough
Indicates something is approaching a desired level of quality but isn't quite there yet.
passable
Emphasizes that something is adequate enough to pass or be tolerated.
sufficient to a degree
Suggests sufficiency but with a limitation or qualification.
tolerable enough
Implies that something is not ideal but can be endured or accepted.
FAQs
How can I use "nearly ok" in a sentence?
Use "nearly ok" to describe something that almost meets requirements or standards, but isn't quite fully acceptable. For example, "The design is "nearly ok", but needs a few more tweaks."
What are some alternatives to saying "nearly ok"?
You can use alternatives like "almost satisfactory", "close to acceptable", or "just about adequate" depending on the context.
Is "nearly ok" formal enough for business writing?
While "nearly ok" is understandable, it might be perceived as informal in formal business writing. Consider using more professional alternatives such as "approaching the required standard" or "substantially compliant" for a more polished tone.
What's the difference between "nearly ok" and "perfectly ok"?
"Nearly ok" suggests that something is on the verge of being acceptable, while "perfectly ok" indicates complete satisfaction and full approval. "Nearly ok" implies there's still room for improvement, whereas "perfectly ok" suggests no further changes are needed.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested