nearly ready

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly ready" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is close to being completed or prepared, but not quite there yet. Example: "The report is nearly ready for submission, just a few final edits are needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Currently the field looks bone dry and nearly ready.

The New York Times

Parliament is not nearly ready for that role.

The Economist

The Cardinals also have outfielder Oscar Taveras, perhaps baseball's top prospect, nearly ready to go.

The New York Times - Sports

Fortunately for him, it turns out, she's not nearly ready to go.

The New Yorker

The top prospects Jesus Montero and Austin Romine are nearly ready, with Gary Sanchez close behind.

The New York Times - Sports

Pale gold drops fell like water from the dipper -- it wasn't nearly ready to can.

The New York Times

Louise says she has her doctors' O.K.; she's nearly ready to ease back into exercise.

The New York Times

Flowering sheaths grow from the pseudobulbs, and protect the flowers until they are nearly ready.

The New York Times

It was ready for the wine, tomatoes and olives, and nearly ready to eat.

The New York Times - Food

Benny Avni scolded the dog, which became fiercer and looked nearly ready to pounce.

The New Yorker

3 When the onions are nearly ready, make the fried bread.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nearly ready", ensure the context clearly indicates what is approaching readiness. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly ready" when something is far from completion. Accurately assess the progress to prevent misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly ready" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of approaching readiness. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts like projects, food, and even people, implying a close-to-completion status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly ready" functions as an adjectival phrase indicating that something is approaching completion. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news media. Its neutral register makes it versatile, suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using "nearly ready", ensure clarity about what is approaching readiness and avoid overstating progress. Alternatives such as "almost prepared" or "virtually complete" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost prepared

Focuses on the state of being prepared, implying a slight difference from being simply ready.

virtually complete

Emphasizes the completion aspect, suggesting only minor tasks remain.

close to finished

Highlights the proximity to the finishing stage of a process.

on the verge of completion

More formal, indicating imminence of completion.

about to launch

Specifically refers to launching something, like a product or project.

practically set

Emphasizes the state of being set or arranged, nearing readiness.

just about set

Less formal than "practically set", but conveys a similar meaning.

in the pipeline

Indicates progress and near readiness, specifically in a developmental context.

approaching readiness

Highlights the ongoing approach towards a state of readiness.

coming soon

A common expression used to announce that something will be available in the near future.

FAQs

What does "nearly ready" mean?

The phrase "nearly ready" indicates that something is close to being completed or prepared but not quite there yet. It suggests that the final steps are underway.

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

You can use "nearly ready" to describe the state of a project, a meal, or any other task that is approaching completion. For example: "The software is "almost ready" for launch."

What are some alternatives to "nearly ready"?

Some alternatives to "nearly ready" include "almost finished", "about to be completed", or "close to completion", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "nigh ready" instead of "nearly ready"?

While "nigh" means near, the phrase "nigh ready" is less common and may sound archaic to some. "Nearly ready" is generally a more widely understood and accepted expression.