next to useless

USAGE SUMMARY

"next to useless" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is almost completely useless or ineffective. Example: "The old computer was next to useless, as it constantly froze and took ages to load anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Badly affected phones become next to useless.

The Guardian - Tech

Just deleting the personal files and emptying the recycle bin is next to useless.

The Economist

However, although PostScript was good at some things, such as printing clearly, it was next to useless for others.

The Economist

In such circumstances, estimates of the costs and benefits of climate change in 2100 are next to useless.

The Economist

No fruit is as good frozen as perfectly fresh, of course, and many are next to useless, especially when thawed.

The New York Times

The new freedom ANA has won to fly to the United States is next to useless without additional slots at Japan's leading airport.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Last week, I highlighted a post by Time's Joe Klein concluding that "polling on issues," as reported by most news media, "is next to useless--especially on issues as emotionally complicated as wars and as technically complicated as health care reform".

Huffington Post

Existing next-day forecasts are accurate less than half the time, she says, making them next-to-useless for farmers.

The Guardian

Of course, the new service being launched by MediaFLO could change this, but for now — next-to-useless.

TechCrunch

Aside from the fact that the BBFC is an archaic and next-to-useless institution (because: hello, internet search engines), what the whole affair actually did as Six pointed out to journalists was provide the sort of advertising that money can rarely buy (although it did dent his final cut; two minutes and 37 seconds were ordered to be removed by the BBFC).

Vice

'The HumAsidentipede 2' Is the from thet Made Me Love Lifact

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "next to useless", ensure the context clearly indicates the degree of ineffectiveness. Quantify the limitation if possible for greater clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "next to useless" when something is completely useless. Reserve it for situations where there's a slight, but ultimately negligible, degree of functionality or value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "next to useless" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that something possesses a minimal amount of utility or effectiveness, bordering on being entirely valueless. Ludwig confirms the validity of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

13%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "next to useless" is an adjectival phrase that describes something as being nearly valueless or ineffective, as stated by Ludwig. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently encountered across a spectrum of sources, notably in News & Media, Wikis, and Science. While "next to useless" suggests a minimal degree of functionality, alternatives such as "virtually worthless" and "almost ineffective" offer nuanced expressions of inutility. When deploying the phrase, it's advisable to quantify limitations for heightened precision, while being mindful not to overstate the level of uselessness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Virtually worthless

Emphasizes the lack of monetary or practical value.

Almost ineffective

Highlights the lack of desired results or impact.

Practically futile

Focuses on the pointlessness or lack of success in attempting something.

As good as unusable

Indicates something is in a condition that prevents its intended use.

Barely functional

Suggests something operates, but at a minimal or unacceptable level.

Close to non-existent

Highlights the very limited nature or presence of something.

Of little practical value

Emphasizes the lack of usefulness in real-world situations.

Hardly effective

Stresses the limited positive impact of something.

Tantamount to failure

Equates the situation almost entirely with a failed outcome.

Insignificant impact

Highlights the very limited influence or effect.

FAQs

How can I use "next to useless" in a sentence?

You can use "next to useless" to describe something that has very little value or is almost completely ineffective. For example, "The old map was "next to useless" without a compass."

What's a more formal alternative to "next to useless"?

More formal alternatives include "virtually worthless" or "of little practical value", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "next to useless"?

Yes, "next to useless" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both spoken and written English.

What's the difference between "next to useless" and "completely useless"?

"Next to useless" implies that something has a very minimal amount of use or value, while "completely useless" means it has none at all. The former suggests a slightly lesser degree of ineffectiveness.