Make Your Editor Cry: Almost (but not quite right)
The word almost must come immediately before the word or phrase it modifies.
Examples.
She almost donated one-million-dollars to the church.
She donated almost one-million-dollars to the church.
You can clearly see how these two examples communicate very different meanings. The first communicates that she nearly–but possibly did not–donate any funds. The second communicates that she donated funds in the amount of nearly a million dollars.
Examples.
There was almost a riotous reaction when the commissioner announced the election results.
There was an almost riotous reaction when the commissioner announced the election results.
Again, these two examples communicate very different meanings. The first communicates that there was nearly a riot. The second communicates that the reaction was nearly riotous.
Gregg Bridgeman is the Editor-in-Chief at Olivia Kimbrell Press. He is husband to best-selling Christian author Hallee Bridgeman and parent to three. He continues to proudly serve in the US Armed Forces and has done so in either an active or reserve capacity for more than twenty years as an airborne and air assault qualified paratrooper, earning a Bronze Star for his service. Most importantly, he was ordained in October of 2001 after surrendering his life to Christ decades earlier.