a close race to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close race to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a competition or contest that is very competitive and where the outcome is uncertain until the end. Example: "The election was a close race to the finish, with both candidates receiving nearly equal support from voters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Lightweight crew's 2nd varsity squad rests after losing a close race to Yale University Saturday morning.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

As the Democratic nominee in 2004, Mr. Kerry lost a close race to President George W. Bush.

The New York Times

The first is that, because of proportionality, it is difficult for any candidate in a close race to gain much of an advantage.

The Washington Post

So even with a Pacific time-zone disadvantage, officials there expect even a close race to be called before midnight Eastern time.

The New York Times

And he did, winning another gold medal in similar fashion as four years earlier, with a close race to the end and a victory wrap inside a flag.

The New York Times - Sports

She lost a close race to Mr. Hamilton in 1994, the year of the Republican sweep nationally, and was badly beaten in 1996.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Mr. Arntz said individual cases of fraud could occur, "but it would have to be a very close race to have a fatal impact on the outcome".

The New York Times

WeChat and Line are in a very close race to the top.

TechCrunch

As I wrote in my last post, the goal of these debates ostensibly, in a close race, is to move wavering voters to your side.

Forbes

The candidates are locked in a close race, according to polls, with two weeks left until Election Day.

The New York Times

Nandi judges a close race between to sailboats behind Palu's destroyed Hotel Mercure.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a close race to" when you want to emphasize the uncertainty and competitiveness of a situation where the outcome is nearly tied. Ensure that context is indeed about competition.

Common error

Avoid using "a close race to" in situations that do not involve a direct competition or contest. For example, don't use it to describe a project deadline that is approaching quickly, as this dilutes the phrase's core meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close race to" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically acting as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes a situation or competition that is highly competitive and has an uncertain outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a close race to" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a competitive situation with an uncertain outcome. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly suitable for use in written English. The phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts, with occasional appearances in academic settings. When using "a close race to", ensure that the context clearly involves competition and uncertainty. While generally neutral in tone, consider more formal alternatives like "a tight contest for" for highly formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tight contest for

Focuses on the competitive aspect and the effort involved in a competition.

a neck and neck competition for

Emphasizes the extreme closeness and uncertainty of the competition.

a photo finish for

Highlights that the outcome was so close that it required detailed examination, originally referred to races when the contestants finished so close that photographs had to be examined to determine the winner.

a razor-thin margin in

Highlights the incredibly small difference between competitors.

a narrow victory in

Indicates a win achieved by a small margin, shifting the focus to the result.

a marginal win in

Highlights the smallness of the winning margin.

a near defeat against

Focuses on how close someone came to losing.

a hard-fought battle for

Emphasizes the intensity and difficulty of the competition.

a tight struggle for

Stresses the difficulty and effort involved in the competition.

a close call with

Indicates that a potentially negative outcome was narrowly avoided.

FAQs

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

You can use "a close race to" to describe any situation where two or more entities are competing intensely and the outcome is uncertain until the very end. For example: "The election turned out to be "a close race to" the finish line".

What can I say instead of "a close race to"?

You can use alternatives like "a tight contest for", "a photo finish for", or "a narrow victory in" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a close race to" in formal writing?

Yes, "a close race to" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in journalistic or analytical contexts where you need to describe a competitive situation. However, consider using more formal alternatives like "a tight contest for" in highly academic or business-oriented documents.

What's the difference between "a close race to" and "a tight race to"?

While "a close race to" and "a tight race to" are very similar, "a close race to" emphasizes the near equality and uncertainty of the outcome, whereas "a tight race to" highlights the intensity and competitiveness. They are often interchangeable, but the subtle difference lies in the focus.