nearly when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly when" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate something that is close to a specific time or event, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "I arrived nearly when the meeting started, so I missed the introduction."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

People have always had a knock-up, I should think, going back to nearly when the game started".

The New York Times - Sports

With this in mind, looking at Figure 1, we can see that provides good performances;, which means that list decoding avoids up to of the changes required by Lagrange interpolation, and on the other hand, the slope is nearly when.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The fat digestibility of the total diet decreased by nearly 5% when 42 g almonds were incorporated into the daily diet and by nearly 10% when 84 g almonds were incorporated into the diet daily (P < 0.0001).

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

It was nearly twilight when we arrived.

The New Yorker

-- lost nearly $1 million when bust followed boom.

The New York Times

I nearly cried when my boy was born, nearly.

Independent

She was nearly thirty when she began to study Arabic.

The New Yorker

Thursday until nearly midnight, when he was released.

The New York Times

Touch is nearly useless when you're word processing.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr. Chaya is nearly incomprehensible when he gets excited.

The New York Times - Arts

Grandad was nearly 70 when I was born.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "nearly when" with clearer alternatives like "almost when" or "just as" to improve readability.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly when" in formal writing; it can sound unnatural. Opt for more precise or standard expressions of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly when" functions as an adverbial modifier introducing a clause of time. It indicates that an event occurred close to another event. Ludwig AI suggests that it can be acceptable but not grammatically elegant.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly when" is used to express that something occurred close to a specific time or event. While understandable, as noted by Ludwig AI, it's not always the most grammatically sound choice, and clearer alternatives like "almost when" or "just as" might be preferable. The phrase appears in both News & Media and Scientific sources, but its usage is rare overall. In formal writing, opting for more precise language is advisable to avoid any ambiguity. While acceptable, consider using alternative options for a more polished and professional writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost when

Indicates a situation that is very close to happening at a specific time, similar to "nearly when".

close to when

Expresses temporal proximity, similar to the meaning conveyed by "nearly when".

virtually when

Suggests that something is practically true at the same time another event occurs.

just as

Implies simultaneous events, similar to expressing timing with "nearly when".

practically when

Highlights that something is very close to a specific condition or time.

about the time when

Specifies an approximate time frame for an event, similar to "nearly when".

around when

Indicates an approximate time, similar to conveying a rough time with "nearly when".

almost at the point when

Denotes reaching a critical juncture or time, similar to the sense of "nearly when".

the moment that

Emphasizes the immediacy of an event, providing a temporal connection similar to "nearly when".

as soon as

Highlights immediacy, indicating two nearly simultaneous events.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "nearly when" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives such as "almost when", "just as", or "close to when" depending on the context.

Is "nearly when" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "nearly when" isn't the most grammatically elegant phrase. It's often better to opt for alternatives to enhance clarity and flow.

What does "nearly when" mean?

"Nearly when" suggests that something happened or was about to happen close to a specific point in time or event. The context dictates the precise meaning.

In what situations is it best to avoid using "nearly when"?

It's generally best to avoid "nearly when" in formal writing. In casual conversation, it might be acceptable, but clearer alternatives are often preferable.