Cool MateNearly vs That's about that much
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Nearly
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
That's about that much
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: NearlyMost common: Nearly
| Nearly | That's about that much | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnɪrli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts əˈbaʊt ðæt mʌtʃ//🇺🇸 //ðæts əˈbaʊt ðæt mʌtʃ// |
| Meaning | almost or very close to something | It refers to a specific amount or level. |
| Example | She runs nearly every day to stay fit. | I need that much money to buy the new phone. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | nearly correct, nearly finished, nearly perfect, nearly half, nearly impossible | that much money, that much time, that much effort |
| Antonyms | completely, not at all | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Nearly' used incorrectly with negative forms (e.g. 'not nearly enough')., Confusing 'nearly' with 'hardly' (the latter implies less than expected)., Using 'nearly' with uncountable nouns when it's not appropriate. | Confused with 'That's about that many' when talking about countable nouns., Used in overly formal contexts where a simpler expression would suffice. |
| Usage notes | Use 'nearly' to indicate something is close to happening or to a specific amount, suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in formal academic writing where more precise language is preferred. | Use this phrase to indicate a particular quantity or extent, usually in casual conversation. It may not be suitable for formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Nearly vs That's about that much
What's the difference between Nearly and That's about that much?
Nearly: almost or very close to something That's about that much: It refers to a specific amount or level.
Which is more formal: Nearly and That's about that much?
Nearly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Nearly and That's about that much?
Nearly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Nearly: She runs nearly every day to stay fit. That's about that much: I need that much money to buy the new phone.
Can I use Nearly and That's about that much interchangeably?
Not always. Nearly and That's about that much are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.