Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
near (adv., adj.), nearly (adv.)
Near is both adjective, as in It was a near thing, and flat adverb, as in It was near a record; It was a near(-)fatal accident. Near is Standard in uses where it is interchangeable with the adverb nearly, as in I’m not nearly [near] ready, as well as in those such as Come near and see for yourself, where nearly won’t work.
