a close match to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close match to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when two things have some similarities but are not identical. For example, "The new player gives the team a close match to the skill of the retired captain."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nelson won a close match 3 2 thanks to another Braidwood strike, followed by Eddleston's 10th and 11th goals of the campaign.

Wikipedia

In a match in which Glebe almost certainly had to win to stay in premiership contention, Eastern Suburbs won a close match 6 4 in front of another record crowd of 25,000 at the Sydney Sports Ground and ended up taking away the premiership four points in front of Glebe at the end of the season.

Wikipedia

In Friday's 60-board match to select U.S.A.-2, Lynch defeated Richie Schwartz, Bob Jones, Russ Ekeblad and Matthew Granovetter in a very close match, 89 international match points to 86.

The New York Times

Meier et al. (2006) have proposed an alternative criterion ('best close match') [17].

Plosone

Indeed, our estimates of genome coverage for multiple element classes using the WGS of M. lucifugus and the collected 454 reads for M. austroriparius are a close match (table 2).

Genome Biology and Evolution

The risk equations produced a close match, predicting 8.5 patients with a first CHD event in the intervention group and 2.0 in the UC subsample.

BMJ Open

In 1866 Anderssen lost a close match with 30-year-old Wilhelm Steinitz (six wins, eight losses, and no draws; Steinitz won the last two games).

Wikipedia

The deals were unexciting, and Sweden defeated England by 29 international match points to 25, which converted to 16 victory points to 14. France lost a close match to the Netherlands by 26 imps to 15, or 17 victory points to 13.

The New York Times

However, the sequence of GB18754 showed a close match to Drosophila Neurexin 1 (DmNrx1; CG7050) [65], except at the 3' ends adjoining the stop codon.

Plosone

Among these, 32% show a close match to the p63 consensus (strong motif) while the remaining 41.3% are a weaker match (Additional file 1: Figure S1).

BMC Genomics

On Saturday, the team lost a close match in the quarterfinals, 21-18, 24-26, to Heather Hughes and Whitney Pavlik.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a close match to", ensure that the context clarifies the specific aspect of similarity being highlighted. For example, "This paint color is a close match to the original shade used in the room."

Common error

Avoid using "a close match to" when the similarity is only superficial or marginal. It is important that the degree of similarity is genuinely high, otherwise, it is preferable to use weaker terms like "similar" or "related".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close match to" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically follows a linking verb (e.g., is, appears, seems). It modifies a noun by describing its relationship to another noun or concept, indicating a high degree of similarity but not exact equivalence. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a close match to" serves to indicate a high degree of similarity without implying exact equivalence. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, the lack of examples suggests that it may not be as common as other comparable phrases. In writing, it's important to ensure that the context validates the high degree of similarity that the phrase implies. When a greater emphasis of similarity or difference is desired, other alternatives could be used. Its register is considered neutral, fitting various types of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a near equivalent of

Implies almost perfect substitutability or functional similarity.

closely resembles

Focuses on visual or structural similarities.

bears a strong resemblance to

Highlights a significant similarity, often visual or superficial.

is highly comparable to

Suggests a high degree of similarity suitable for comparison.

almost identical to

Emphasizes the near-perfect match between two things.

virtually the same as

Highlights that any difference is negligible.

a good approximation of

Indicates that something is similar but not exact.

aligns closely with

Suggests a correspondence in position or direction.

closely corresponds to

Emphasizes an exact or parallel relationship.

fits well with

Suggests that something works well with or complements something else.

FAQs

How can I use "a close match to" in a sentence?

Use "a close match to" when you want to express that something is very similar to something else, but not identical. For example, "The copy of the painting was a close match to the original".

What are some alternatives to "a close match to"?

You can use alternatives like "a near equivalent of", "closely resembles", or "bears a strong resemblance to" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a close match to" or "identical to"?

"A close match to" implies a high degree of similarity but not perfect identity. "Identical to" means exactly the same. The better choice depends on the accuracy of the comparison you are making.

In what situations is "a close match to" most appropriate?

"A close match to" is appropriate in situations where you need to highlight the similarity between two things, while acknowledging that they are not exactly the same. This is common in scientific comparisons, product descriptions, or when discussing imitations or replicas.