a close game to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close game to" is not correct and does not convey a complete thought in written English.
It may be intended to describe a game that is competitive or closely contested, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "It was a close game to the very end, with both teams fighting hard for the win."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

But that left a close game to the Tigers' bullpen, perhaps Detroit's biggest weakness.

The New York Times

At Nationals, a short-benched team dropped a close game to Florida State before beating Georgia to secure 13th place.

Columbia University

MEN'S BASKETBALL blew an 18-point lead to Northeastern on Tuesday and lost a close game to Rutgers on Friday, both at Jadwin Gymnasum.

Princeton University

The Badgers went on to lose a close game to Ohio State the following week, then won four in a row.

The New York Times

* * * HALFTIME UPDATE: In the two weeks before tonight's Super Bowl, all football fans were hearing was to expect a close game — to expect something amazing.

The New Yorker

His Syracuse Orangemen had lost a close game to Georgia Tech, a team with lofty hopes of a run at a national championship.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Yale dropped a close game at home to Albany last week for its first loss of the season.

Princeton University

OHIO ST. 69, NORTHWESTERN 49 Michael Redd scored 25 points and No. 6 Ohio State broke open a close game at halftime to beat visiting Northwestern (5-21, 0-13).

The New York Times - Sports

"We had a tough week last week, losing a close game at San Francisco," Johnson said, referring to a 13-3 loss.

The New York Times - Sports

He went undefeated through the round robin and made it to the final, where he lost a close game 6 5 to Glenn Howard.

Wikipedia

On Sunday afternoon, the Gladiator Pee Wee team lost a close game 7-0 theTemple CityCity Rams at Temple City High School.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a close game to" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, consider using phrases like "a close game" or "a tightly contested game".

Common error

The phrase "a close game to" often leaves the reader expecting additional information. Ensure you complete the thought by specifying what the game is close to, or rephrase it for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close game to" functions as an incomplete adjective phrase, intended to modify a noun but lacking a clear grammatical connection. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically incorrect, requiring additional context to be meaningful.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a close game to" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and incomplete. The phrase is intended to describe a closely contested sporting event, but it requires further context to convey its meaning effectively. Consider using alternatives like "a "close game"", ""tightly contested game"", or ""closely fought match"" for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tightly contested game

Replaces "close" with "tightly contested", emphasizing the intensity of the competition.

a closely fought match

Substitutes "game" with "match" and uses "closely fought" to highlight the competitive nature.

a neck and neck competition

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of a very tight race or game.

a game decided by a narrow margin

Focuses on the outcome, indicating that the difference between the winner and loser was small.

a hard fought game

Emphasizes the effort and struggle involved in the game.

a nail biting game

Highlights the suspenseful nature of the game.

a game that went down to the wire

Uses an idiom to describe a game decided in the final moments.

a photo finish game

Implies an extremely close finish, similar to a photo finish in a race.

a game of inches

Suggests that small differences or advantages determined the outcome.

an evenly matched game

Indicates that the teams or players were of similar skill level.

FAQs

How can I properly use the words "close game" in a sentence?

Use "close game" to describe a match where the score difference is minimal. For example: "It was a "close game", with the final score being 14-13."

What's a better way to say "a close game to"?

Since "a close game to" isn't grammatically correct, consider alternatives like "tightly contested game" or "closely fought match".

Is it correct to say "a close game to the end"?

While understandable, it's more grammatically sound to say "a "close game until the end"" or "a close game that lasted until the end".

What makes a game considered a "close game"?

A "close game" is generally defined as a contest where the score difference remains small throughout, creating a tense and unpredictable atmosphere until the very end.