a close familiar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close familiar" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to describe someone who is a close friend or acquaintance, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "She is a close familiar of mine, always there when I need support."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As this year's international prize season comes to a close, familiar questions are raised.

The New York Times - Books

If the recruiter was described as a close, familiar person, this was said to foster trust and persuasion.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Among the perils that low-income students face is "under-matching," choosing a close or familiar school instead of the best they can attend.

The New York Times

Mueller's office referred Craig's case last year to prosecutors in Manhattan as Mueller worked to bring his investigation to a close, people familiar with the matter have said.

The Washington Post

The close familiar relationship between cases strongly indicated a genetic aetiology; we therefore decided to analyse the pedigree data to infer an inheritance mechanism.

BMC Veterinary Research

Blues in six This is the kind of thing the NHL was going for with this new playoff format: close, familiar divisional rivals facing off in the post-season to stoke the rivalry a bit more.

The Guardian - Sport

"Unfortunately, most sexual abuse happens within the context of close, familiar relationships and the #MeToo movement speaks to how common it is for people in positions of authority to abuse people they have power over".

Huffington Post

Few of them had disclosed their HIV infection to their social circle and in most cases, only to the partner or very close familiar circle.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Rock scholars might recognize this photograph as one of the earliest portraits of the Velvet Underground, shot on Ludlow Street in mid-1965, and a close look reveals familiar details: Lou Reed's smirk, John Cale's spotless black suit, a sullen Sterling Morrison.

The New York Times - Arts

About 80percentt of Birmingham Jews are members of a synagogue or otherwise involved in Jewish organizations, according to the Birmingham Jewish Federation, making for a close community of familiar faces.

Huffington Post

But as the month before the festival winded to a close, all the familiar feelings of insecurity, doubt began to nibble away at the edges of my excitement.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a close familiar" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "a close friend" or "a familiar face" depending on the context.

Common error

A common mistake is treating "familiar" as a noun to describe a person. "Familiar" is typically an adjective. Instead of saying "He's a close familiar", use "He's a close friend" or "He's a familiar face".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close familiar" functions as a noun phrase, although its usage is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrasing is awkward and unclear and it's attempting to describe someone who is well-known.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a close familiar" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that it is an awkward and unclear attempt to describe a close friend or acquaintance. While it appears in some sources, it's recommended to use more common and precise alternatives such as "a close friend", "a familiar face", or "a close associate" depending on the intended meaning. Using these alternatives will improve clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing. It is important to note the word “familiar” is generally an adjective so using it as a noun here is syntactically wrong.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a close friend

Replaces "familiar" with the more common and direct term "friend" to indicate a close personal relationship.

an intimate friend

Substitutes "close" with "intimate", suggesting a deeper and more personal connection.

a dear friend

Uses "dear" instead of "close" to convey affection and a strong bond.

a close associate

Replaces "familiar" with "associate", indicating a professional or working relationship.

a close colleague

Emphasizes a close working relationship in a professional setting.

a familiar face

Uses "familiar face" to describe someone who is recognized but not necessarily close.

a close relative

Specifies a close connection through family ties.

a known acquaintance

Suggests someone you are aware of, but not necessarily close to.

a long-time acquaintance

Highlights a relationship that has lasted for a significant period.

a trusted confidant

Emphasizes a relationship built on trust and shared secrets.

FAQs

Is "a close familiar" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "a close familiar" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "a close friend" or "a familiar face" depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to "a close familiar"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a close friend", "a close associate", or "a familiar face".

When is it appropriate to use the word "familiar"?

The word "familiar" is typically used as an adjective to describe something that is well-known or easily recognized. For example, "a familiar song" or "a familiar place".

How can I avoid making errors with the word "familiar"?

To avoid errors, make sure to use "familiar" as an adjective, not as a noun to describe a person. Instead of saying "She's a familiar", say "She's a familiar face" or "She is well-known to me".