Nouns ending in a consonant followed by -y change the -y to -ies in the plural form.
Nearly is regular. It follows the -ies Conversion rule.
Use plural verbs: "The nearlies are ready" (not "is ready").
Yes. The plural nearlies is standard across all English variants.
The word nearly follows the standard English pluralization rule. When forming the plural, nearly becomes nearlies. This follows the -ies Conversion pattern, which is one of the most common plural rules in English.
Understanding why nearly becomes nearlies helps with spelling and pronunciation. Nouns ending in a consonant followed by -y change the -y to -ies in the plural form.
When using nearlies in writing, remember that it functions as a plural noun in sentences. It pairs with plural verbs and pronouns. For example: "The nearlies are ready" (not "is ready"). This subject-verb agreement is essential for grammatical correctness.