nearly reaching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly reaching" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is close to achieving a certain point or level but has not quite done so. Example: "The team is nearly reaching their sales target for the quarter, showing significant improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

A chenille of snot hung from my nose, nearly reaching my chin.

The New Yorker

In Colombia, it is a rising $38 billion debt and unemployment nearly reaching 20percentt.

The New York Times

Temperatures were the highest so far this year, nearly reaching the record for the date, according to the National Weather Service.

The New York Times

Crude began to rise on Oct. 7, when a barrel cost less than $70, and moved higher for eight days straight nearly reaching $80.

The New York Times

26 min: From the scrum, the ball's snapped back to O'Gara who puts his boot through it, nearly reaching the halfway line.

The Guardian - Sport

The partition is a T-shaped panel installed in a bench seat, with a wall rising between two children and nearly reaching the ceiling.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Atlético could nearly reach the trophy.

The Guardian - Sport

He had nearly reached 180 innings when he was sidelined.

The New York Times - Sports

Roller rinks have nearly reached the same sorry state.

The New York Times

The Knicks have nearly reached the end of a six-week soft spot in the schedule.

The New York Times

Turkey is struggling to accommodate overcrowded camps and said it has nearly reached its limit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly reaching" to convey a sense of progress and potential without claiming complete achievement. This can be useful in situations where you want to acknowledge effort and advancement but avoid overstating the final outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly reaching" when the actual outcome is significantly far from the intended goal. Ensure the context justifies the sense of proximity implied by the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly reaching" functions as a progressive verb phrase, indicating an action that is in progress but not yet completed. It modifies a noun by describing its state of approximation to a particular endpoint, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly reaching" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that effectively conveys the sense of approximating or closely attaining a goal. As shown by Ludwig, it's common in news, science, and general writing. Be mindful of overstating achievements and avoid using it when the outcome is far from the intended goal. Remember that alternatives like "almost attaining" or "approaching closely" can provide nuanced variations for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost attaining

Emphasizes the act of achieving something, but falling just short.

approaching closely

Focuses on the process of getting closer to a target or goal.

virtually achieving

Highlights that something is practically, but not completely, achieved.

nearing completion

Specifically relates to the final stages of a process or task.

close to attaining

Similar to almost attaining, but with a slightly more formal tone.

on the verge of achieving

Indicates imminent success or completion.

in proximity of reaching

More formal and emphasizes physical or metaphorical closeness.

about to reach

Highlights the imminence of reaching a goal or destination.

drawing near to reaching

Emphasizes the continuous progress toward a target.

closely approximating

Focuses on the accuracy of the approach without necessarily reaching the exact point.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly reaching" to describe a situation where something is close to achieving a specific level or target. For example, "The project is "nearly reaching" completion" indicates that the project is in its final stages.

What are some alternatives to "nearly reaching"?

Some alternatives to "nearly reaching" include "almost attaining", "approaching closely", or "virtually achieving", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "almost reaching" and "nearly reaching"?

"Almost reaching" and "nearly reaching" are largely interchangeable and share a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on stylistic preference or the specific flow of the sentence.

When is it appropriate to use "nearly reaching"?

It's appropriate to use "nearly reaching" when you want to emphasize that something has made significant progress toward a goal or target but has not quite attained it. This is useful when accuracy is important, and you want to avoid overstating the outcome.