nearly the same size

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly the same size" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the dimensions or measurements of two objects that are similar but not identical in size. Example: "The two boxes are nearly the same size, making them perfect for stacking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But it would give British Air access to a domestic network nearly the same size as American's.

The New York Times

A polyhedral solid model of the part with sufficiently small triangles of nearly the same size is prepared.

Journal of Computational Design and Engineering

And they are nearly the same size, Sundin at 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds and Holik 6-4 and 230.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Ackermann, they note, spent most of his career there, and Credit Suisse is nearly the same size as Deutsche Bank, removing the humbling prospect of a takeover.

The New York Times

Corporate, charter and time-share planes are smaller on the runway but appear nearly the same size on a radar screen.

The New York Times

Male Grevy's zebras are larger than females; in the plains zebra and the mountain zebra, the sexes are nearly the same size.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

The setae present in the patch are nearly of the same size.

The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology

For comparative tests, samples from the 18Cr10NiTi steel and Armco iron (AK Steel International, Stevenage, Great Britain) were prepared as plates nearly of the same size, the difference being no more than 1%.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The typical flaky suspended particles remained nearly of the same size, shape, and morphology, suggesting that this is probably not the cause for the activity drop.

BMC Biotechnology

The predicted protein encoded by the truncated 23o transcript was not lacking any known protein domain and was nearly of the same size as the nontruncated version.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Both are about the same size, and both orbit their suns at nearly the same distance.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing sizes, ensure the context provides a clear reference point. For example, instead of just saying "The boxes are nearly the same size", specify "The boxes are nearly the same size, making them easy to stack".

Common error

Avoid using "nearly the same size" when the objects being compared have significant size differences. Using qualifiers like "much" or "considerably" can provide a more accurate description if the sizes aren't truly close.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly the same size" functions as an adjective phrase used to modify nouns by describing their dimensions. It indicates that two or more items share a high degree of similarity in size. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly the same size" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe items that share similar dimensions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across a variety of contexts, from news and media to scientific publications. While it implies a close approximation, it doesn't suggest perfect equality. For alternative expressions, consider "almost the same size" or "approximately the same size". When using this phrase, ensure the context provides a clear reference point and avoid overstating the similarity if there are significant size differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost the same size

Replaces "nearly" with "almost", suggesting a slightly higher degree of approximation.

approximately the same size

Substitutes "nearly" with "approximately", conveying a more formal and mathematical sense of similarity.

roughly the same size

Uses "roughly" instead of "nearly", implying a less precise estimation.

virtually the same size

Replaces "nearly" with "virtually", suggesting a close-to-exact similarity.

practically the same size

Uses "practically" instead of "nearly", emphasizing that the difference is negligible in practice.

comparable in size

Employs a different grammatical structure, focusing on the comparability of the sizes rather than a direct size match.

of similar dimensions

Shifts the focus to dimensions, offering a slightly more technical alternative.

close to the same size

Adds "close to", indicating proximity to identical size.

not far off in size

Expresses similarity through negation, indicating that the sizes are not significantly different.

akin in size

Uses "akin" to imply a resemblance in size.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly the same size" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly the same size" to compare two objects' dimensions, indicating they are very similar. For example, "The two rooms are nearly the same size, which is why they both work well as bedrooms."

What's a good alternative to "nearly the same size"?

Alternatives include "almost the same size", "approximately the same size", or "roughly the same size", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "almost the same size" instead of "nearly the same size"?

Yes, "almost the same size" is a perfectly acceptable and frequently used alternative to "nearly the same size". Both convey a high degree of similarity in size.

What level of precision does "nearly the same size" imply?

"Nearly the same size" suggests a close approximation but not an exact match. The degree of acceptable difference depends on the context; in some cases, a few inches might be acceptable, while in others, even a millimeter could be significant.