nearly usable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly usable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is close to being functional or acceptable, but not quite there yet. Example: "The software is nearly usable, but it still has a few bugs that need to be fixed before the official launch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It featured a nearly usable chiclet keyboard that could be hidden by swiveling the large screen.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Black is the most usable color.

WikiHow

The result — a PDA that wasn't nearly as usable as it had been — was thrilling.

TechCrunch

The yard and the patio now nearly double the usable living space of the property on all but the most inclement days.

The New York Times

Today, at universities like Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in national laboratories like Argonne and Lawrence Berkeley, scientists are developing technologies that could power a post-oil age — batteries nearly as rich in usable energy as gasoline, which would make cars like the Volt, with their gas-burning backup engines, historical artifacts.

The New York Times

Recycled materials are not generally included in the quoted examples because they are usable in nearly all applications if there is no limitation concerning the considered article to be manufactured in the countries of production, commercialization, and use.

Industrial Applications of Renewable Plastics Environmental, Technological, and Economic Advances

Thompson said the new drums are usable by nearly all Teri's clients, whereas conventional drums "were good for only a small percentage of them".

Los Angeles Times

Jabbing, apologizing and then jabbing again, it takes Harriet Ayikoru nearly 20 minutes to find a usable vein beneath the sleeves of the sad old Tweety Bird T-shirt that Sentina Drajiru wears, and when the melarsoprol goes in, Ms. Drajiru winces.

The New York Times

France has a usable agricultural area of nearly 74 million acres (30 million hectares), more than three-fifths of which is used for arable farming (requiring plowing or tillage), followed by permanent grassland (about one-third) and permanent crops such as vines and orchards (about one-twentieth).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The experiment used two scanning magnets for X and Y deflection of the proton beam and covered a usable target area of nearly 1 m2.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

The findings were grim: Hurricane Matthew impacted nearly 30percentt of the nation's usable agricultural land.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly usable" when you want to convey that something is functional but might require some adjustments or workarounds.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly usable" when the subject is completely unusable. The phrase implies a degree of functionality, however limited.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly usable" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to indicate a state of near usability. As per Ludwig AI, it suggests something is close to being functional but not entirely so. This can be observed in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly usable" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed compound adjective that describes something approaching functionality but not fully realized. Ludwig AI provides examples that demonstrate its use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and technology. It's important to note that, while versatile, it's best used when the subject indeed possesses a degree of usability rather than being entirely non-functional. Alternatives include "almost functional" or "practically usable", offering similar nuances. Always choose alternatives that sound natural within the context of the sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost functional

Indicates something is approaching full functionality but may still have minor issues.

practically usable

Emphasizes the practical aspect of usability, suggesting it can be used with some effort.

close to ready

Focuses on the readiness aspect, indicating it's nearing completion and usability.

nearly ready for use

Highlights the imminent usability, specifying it's almost prepared for utilization.

approaching usability

Suggests a gradual increase towards a state of being usable.

just about usable

Indicates usability is barely achieved, perhaps with limitations.

almost in working order

Highlights that something isn't working perfectly, but close to it.

borderline functional

Implies a condition where something is only marginally functional.

virtually usable

Indicates a high degree of approximation to usability.

not quite ready

Emphasizes the lack of full readiness, implying minor adjustments are still needed.

FAQs

How to use "nearly usable" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly usable" to describe something that is close to being functional or acceptable, but not quite there yet. For example, "The software is nearly usable, but it still has a few bugs that need to be fixed before the official launch."

What can I say instead of "nearly usable"?

You can use alternatives like "almost functional", "practically usable", or "close to ready" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "nearly usable" or "almost usable"?

Both "nearly usable" and "almost usable" are correct and interchangeable. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference. However, "almost usable" might sound more natural in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "nearly usable" and "fully usable"?

"Nearly usable" suggests that something is approaching usability but still has limitations, while "fully usable" implies that something is completely functional and ready for use without any restrictions.