nearly since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly since" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate a time frame that is close to a specific point in the past, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "I have been working here nearly since the company was founded."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

But Sophos is not a spring chicken startup: the company has been around since 1985 — nearly since the beginning of our modern love affair with technology.

TechCrunch

Consequently, civilians and slavery were integrated into the West's Civil War nearly since it began, with neither side innocent.

The New York Times

At 66 Mr. Barenboim has been performing for 58 years, nearly since the days of the first commercially successful LPs.

The New York Times - Arts

When we rang Humi (short for Humildad), who has been hand-cranking sausages nearly since birth, she apologized for taking a while to answer the door.

The New York Times - Travel

Mr. Russell has been an active adviser to the school nearly since it was founded, and has helped bring other directors and stars on board.

The New York Times

There have been Mormons in his family on both sides for four generations, which is to say very nearly since the founding of the church.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Because of the risks, physicists have been attempting for decades--nearly since the Van Allen belts themselves were discovered in 1958--to 1958--to 1958--tos the outbursts.

Science Magazine

The population has nearly doubled since 2000.

The New York Times

Oil prices have nearly tripled since 2000.

The New Yorker

She has been nearly deaf since birth.

The New York Times

had fallen by nearly half since then.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly establishes the event or time period being referenced when using "nearly since".

Common error

Avoid using "nearly since" in overly complex sentences where the approximation of time is not essential to the meaning. Simplification often enhances clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly since" functions as an adverbial modifier specifying a timeframe that approximates a starting point. It indicates that a situation has existed for a duration close to, but not precisely from, a particular event or time. Ludwig AI suggests that alternatives like "almost since" might be more precise.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly since" is used to indicate an approximate starting point in time. While readily understood, it is not always considered grammatically ideal, and alternatives such as "almost since" or "practically since" may offer greater clarity. As shown in the examples provided by Ludwig, it is commonly found in neutral contexts like news and media. Ludwig AI advises considering the specific nuance you wish to convey and choosing the most precise alternative accordingly. Although acceptable, writers should be mindful of potential ambiguity and opt for clearer phrasing when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost since

Emphasizes a high degree of proximity to the starting point, implying 'very close to' but not exactly the same.

practically since

Suggests that the difference from the starting point is negligible or unimportant.

virtually since

Similar to 'practically', implying that the slight difference is not consequential.

close to since

Directly indicates proximity in time to a specific starting event.

just about since

Suggests a slight approximation.

in the vicinity of since

Indicates being generally around the time of a specific event without being precise.

roughly since

Conveys an estimated or approximate timeframe from the starting event.

around about since

Informal way of saying 'approximately' or 'in the region of' a certain time.

in the neighborhood of since

Similar to 'in the vicinity of', but slightly more colloquial.

approximating since

Focuses on the act of estimating or coming close to the start time.

FAQs

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

Use "nearly since" to indicate that something has been happening for a duration close to a specific starting point. For example, "The company has been using this software "almost since" its launch".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "nearly since"?

Alternatives include "practically since", "almost since", or "virtually since". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "nearly since"?

While commonly used and generally understood, "nearly since" isn't always considered grammatically ideal. Alternatives like "almost since" are often preferred for their clarity and grammatical precision.

When is it best to use "nearly since" instead of "since"?

Use "nearly since" when you want to emphasize that the start time is approximate, not exact. For instance, "They've been partners "roughly since" the beginning of the project", suggests the partnership began close to, but not necessarily exactly at, the project's inception.