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almost and nearly; practically

Progress, measurement and counting​

Almost and nearly can both express ideas connected with progress, measurement or counting. Nearly is less common in American English.

  • I’ve almost/nearly finished.
  • There were almost/nearly a thousand people there.

Sometimes almost is a little ‘nearer’ than nearly. Compare:

  • It’s nearly ten o’clock. (= perhaps 9.45)
  • It’s almost ten o’clock. (= perhaps 9.57)

Very and pretty can be used with nearly but not almost.

  • I’ve very/pretty nearly finished. (not … very almost …)

Other meanings​

We can use almost to mean ‘similar to, but not exactly the same’, and to make statements less definite. Nearly is not used like this.

  • Our cat understands everything – he’s almost human. (not … he’s nearly human.)
  • My aunt’s got a strange accent. She almost sounds foreign. (not … She nearly sounds foreign.)
  • I almost wish I’d stayed at home. (not I nearly wish …)
  • Jake is almost like a father to me.

never, nobody, nothing, etc​

We do not usually use nearly before negative pronouns or adverbs like never, nobody, nothing. Instead, we use almost, or we use hardly with ever, anybody, anything, etc.

  • She’s almost never / hardly ever at home. (not … nearly never …)
  • Almost nobody / hardly anybody was there.

everybody, everything, anybody, anything, etc​

We also prefer almost before everybody/-one/-thing/-where, and almost is much more common than nearly before anybody/-one/-thing/-where.

  • She likes almost everybody.
  • He’s been almost everywhere.
  • Almost anybody can do this job.
  • He eats almost anything.

practically​

Practically can be used in the same way as almost.

  • I’ve practically finished.
  • Jake is practically like a father to me.
  • She’s practically never at home.