quite reach

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite reach" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a miscombination of words and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I couldn't quite reach the top shelf."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He extends himself into the thrashing wind, can't quite reach.

The New Yorker

He was tantalizingly close, but he couldn't quite reach it.

The New Yorker

Suárez could not quite reach the ball, three yards out.

The Guardian - Sport

Cech guesses correctly, but can't quite reach the low shot.

The Guardian - Sport

And even then, the company could not quite reach its target market share of 29%.

The Economist

And as he feared, his music didn't quite reach that level, but it came reasonably close.

The New York Times - Arts

You're always burrowing and mining, but you never feel you can quite reach the seam".

Independent

Segel doesn't quite reach the rarefied realms of the mathematical aspect of Wallace's temperament.

The New Yorker

I come close to that conclusion, but I don't quite reach it".

The New York Times

The overriding impression was of a manager with an itch he cannot quite reach.

The Guardian - Sport

So what happened to those who didn't quite reach the gold standard?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the failure to achieve a statistical significance, specify the p-value (e.g., "the results approached significance but did not "quite reach" it (p = 0.06)"). This provides greater clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "quite reach" in formal writing where more precise language is preferred. Instead of saying "The company couldn't "quite reach" its goals", use "The company failed to achieve its goals".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite reach" functions primarily as a qualifier to a verb, indicating the degree to which an action or goal is achieved. While Ludwig highlights that it's not always grammatically perfect, its function remains to express near attainment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

35%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "quite reach" is frequently used across various contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific articles, Ludwig points out it's not considered grammatically correct. It functions to express near attainment but ultimate failure, and it is generally neutral in tone. It is advisable to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "almost achieve" or "fall short of" especially in formal writing. The prevalence of the phrase suggests it is readily understood, but attention to grammatical correctness will enhance clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall short of

Directly indicates a failure to meet a target or expectation.

come close to

Emphasizes the nearness of achieving something, but acknowledges the ultimate failure.

narrowly miss

Suggests a slight failure to achieve a target or goal.

almost achieve

Focuses on the nearing of a goal or achievement, but implies failure to complete it.

nearly attain

Emphasizes the close proximity to reaching a specific level or status.

not fully extend to

Specifically refers to a limited physical or metaphorical reach.

scarcely grasp

Highlights the difficulty and near impossibility of understanding or obtaining something.

barely access

Focuses on the minimal level of access achieved, suggesting limited or incomplete reach.

hardly accomplish

Stresses the difficulty and low probability of accomplishing a task or goal.

missed by a hair's breadth

Highlights how incredibly close something came to being achieved but ultimately was not.

FAQs

What does "quite reach" mean?

"Quite reach" suggests almost achieving something but ultimately falling short. It implies a near miss or incomplete attainment.

How can I use "quite reach" in a sentence?

While commonly used, consider more precise alternatives. For instance, instead of "He couldn't "quite reach" the shelf", you could say "He was "unable to reach" the shelf" or "He "failed to reach" the shelf".

What are some alternatives to "quite reach"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "almost achieve", "nearly attain", or "fall short of".

Is it grammatically correct to say "quite reach"?

While commonly used, Ludwig AI indicates that "quite reach" is not considered entirely grammatically correct. Opt for clearer, more precise alternatives for formal writing. The search results from Ludwig indicate it is used, but not always in the most grammatically sound contexts.