nearly zero vs almost zero

Both 'nearly zero' and 'almost zero' are correct and commonly used phrases in English. They are interchangeable and convey the same meaning of something being very close to zero.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 3570 views

nearly zero

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that something is very close to zero but not exactly zero.

Examples:

The chances of success are nearly zero.
The temperature dropped to nearly zero degrees.

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Mobile phone coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, has gone from nearly zero subscribers 20 years ago to around 700 million today.
Among the more important provisions of the directive we are working on is the concept of 'nearly zero energy buildings'.
Article 9 of the Directive sets a specific target that by the end of 2020 all new buildings must have nearly zero or very low energy needs.
When goods are digital, they can be replicated with perfect quality at nearly zero cost, and they can be delivered almost instantaneously.
An important step has been taken towards reducing energy consumption over the coming years with the adoption of this recommendation, which aims for nearly zero energy buildings by 2020.
This legislation stipulates that by 2020, new buildings must be nearly zero energy and that renovated existing buildings must meet minimum energy performance requirements.
(b11) To have nearly zero energy buildings (stores or distribution centres) where local conditions allow the production of renewable energy on site or nearby.
This benchmark can also be seen in the light of the Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and the national definitions of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB).
Furthermore, Member States should develop policies for the transformation of existing buildings into nearly zero energy buildings (Art. 9(1a)).
Nevertheless, the terms 'nearly zero' or 'very low amount' of energy introduced by the EPBD provide indications as to the extent and limits of Member States' discretion.
Let us recall that by the end of 2020, all new buildings are to be nearly zero energy buildings, and this is to be achieved two years before that for the public sector, which should be leading by example.
Because the transformation of existing buildings into nearly zero energy buildings is often relatively costly, and therefore can be an ineffective use of scarce funds, Council could not accept to set binding targets for existing buildings.
At that point, we had nearly zero information about tapirs, mostly because they're so difficult to study.
That is why the Member States must immediately launch a programme of deep renovations in the existing building stock to achieve a nearly zero level energy consumption in the built environment by 2050.
By 31 December 2020 at the latest, all new buildings must be nearly zero energy.
The movement towards nearly zero energy cost in buildings means that the bar has been raised even higher for builders than hitherto planned when discussing passive house technologies.
This time we are faced with the challenge of having to reduce the sulphur content of fuel to very nearly zero for both diesel fuel and normal petrol.
Mr President, in an opinion by the Council's Legal Service on the Water Framework Directive, the reduction of emissions down to nearly zero is not deemed to be legally binding.
I voted for this recommendation on the energy performance of buildings, since it promotes the objective of moving towards nearly zero energy buildings.
This legislation stipulates that by 2020, new buildings must be nearly zero energy and that renovated existing buildings must meet minimum energy performance requirements.

Alternatives:

almost zero
close to zero
practically zero
virtually zero
nearly nonexistent

almost zero

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to convey the idea that something is very close to zero but not exactly zero.