nearly simultaneously

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly simultaneously" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use the phrase "nearly simultaneously" when two or more things occur close together in time. For example, "The two teams completed their training exercises nearly simultaneously."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Gunmen attacked nearly simultaneously targets across Paris, killing 130 people in total.

The Guardian - Music

The separate colours are therefore printed as nearly simultaneously as possible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nearly simultaneously, in Durban, South Africa, African leaders created the African Union to replace the Organization of African Unity.

The New York Times

A car bomb detonated nearly simultaneously outside a beachfront hotel on the other side of town killed 13 people.

The New York Times

But they said that despite the coincidence of two jets plunging nearly simultaneously, investigators continued to consider other possible explanations.

The New York Times

The earliest crocodilians occurred nearly simultaneously with the first known dinosaurs, so neither could have given rise to the other.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That summer, female suicide bombers with hand grenades brought down two Russian passenger jets nearly simultaneously, killing 90 people.

The New York Times

The deadliest attack occurred around sunset when a pair of bombs exploded nearly simultaneously in Shula in northwestern Baghdad.

The New York Times

Two weeks later, on May 12, three truck bombs exploded, nearly simultaneously, at Western compounds here, killing 35 people, including 8 Americans.

The New York Times

A6 Bombings Kill 3 in Russia Three bombs exploded nearly simultaneously in southern Russia, killing at least 3 people, officials said.

The New York Times

A11 Two Planes Crash in Russia Two Russian passenger jets on domestic flights crashed nearly simultaneously after departing from the same terminal in Moscow, officials said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly simultaneously" to clearly convey that events occurred very close in time, but not exactly at the same moment. This adds precision to your writing when absolute simultaneity is not intended.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly simultaneously" when the events are clearly not close in time. Using it loosely can weaken your argument and confuse readers. Instead, opt for phrases like "soon after" or "subsequently" if there's a noticeable delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly simultaneously" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. It specifies that events occur close in time but not precisely at the same moment. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly simultaneously" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate events occurring close together in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in science and news reporting. While there are several alternatives, such as "practically simultaneously" or "almost concurrently", choosing the right one depends on the desired level of formality and precision. Remember to avoid redundancy by not pairing "nearly" with "almost", and use it judiciously to accurately represent the timing of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practically simultaneously

Emphasizes the near indistinguishability of the timing of events.

roughly simultaneously

Suggests an approximation of simultaneous occurrence, allowing for a slightly greater time difference.

essentially simultaneously

Highlights that the events occur together in all important aspects.

approximately simultaneously

Similar to 'roughly simultaneously' but might imply a more calculated estimate of timing.

virtually simultaneously

Suggests that the events are so close in time that they are for all intents and purposes simultaneous.

almost concurrently

Uses a more formal term for occurring together, indicating a slightly elevated register.

in rapid succession

Focuses on the speed at which the events follow each other, rather than their exact simultaneity.

close together in time

Breaks down the concept into simpler terms, suitable for less formal contexts.

in quick sequence

Highlights the order and swiftness of the events, implying a cause-and-effect relationship.

at about the same time

Offers a more general expression of temporal proximity, suitable for everyday conversation.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly simultaneously" to describe events that occur close together in time. For example, "The two explosions occurred "nearly simultaneously", causing widespread panic."

What are some alternatives to saying "nearly simultaneously"?

Alternatives include "practically simultaneously", "roughly simultaneously", or "almost concurrently", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it redundant to say "almost nearly simultaneously"?

Yes, using "almost" and "nearly" together is generally redundant. It's best to choose one or the other for clarity and conciseness.

What's the difference between "simultaneously" and "nearly simultaneously"?

"Simultaneously" implies that events happen at the exact same time, while "nearly simultaneously" indicates they occur very close together in time, but not necessarily at the exact same moment. The latter allows for a slight temporal gap.