are close to nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are close to nothing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is nearly insignificant or has very little value or substance. Example: "The results of the experiment were so inconclusive that they are close to nothing in terms of scientific contribution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's not a bad sum for a small house on a highway, but Mr. Jones's mortgage is paid off and his taxes are low, and he says his monthly costs are close to nothing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The hardest thing is to do something which is close to nothing," says the film poster, quoting the artist.

The Guardian - Arts

Therefore, there's close to nothing in terms of interpersonal interaction with local people when it comes to tourists in North Korea.

The Guardian

In fact, only a month before Collins made his announcement Brittney Griner, a feted Women's National Basketball Association draft pick, had come out and coverage was close to nothing.

The Guardian - Opinion

512MB is close to nothing.

TechCrunch

Sedona is close to nothing, which is why it's the perfect destination for an off-the-beaten-path kind of story.

HuffPost

But with 12 million Bitcoins in circulation, the temptation to keep them and maybe exchange for a higher value was high especially as its original value was close to nothing.

Huffington Post

The chances of Miley and Zac being on and advertising themselves being on is close to nothing, but people believe you nonetheless.

WikiHow

Wilde goes on: They are close to his secret and know nothing of it.

The New Yorker

Both running and walking are accessible and cost close to nothing.

HuffPost

It is not feasible to exhaustively search the halving solutions to find those that are closest to the outgroups, to say nothing of the heuristic search step.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are close to nothing" to emphasize the near absence or insignificance of something, especially when highlighting minimal impact or value.

Common error

Avoid using "are close to nothing" in highly formal or professional writing where more precise or sophisticated language might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "are negligible" or "are of minimal consequence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are close to nothing" functions as a descriptive phrase. It is used to indicate that something has minimal value, impact, or significance. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

28%

HuffPost

9%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are close to nothing" is a descriptive expression used to convey that something has minimal value, impact, or significance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While suitable for neutral to informal contexts, it may be less appropriate for highly formal writing. Related phrases include "are virtually nonexistent" or "amount to very little". Use it to emphasize the near absence or insignificance of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are next to nothing

A more direct synonym, simply stating that something is almost nothing.

are virtually nonexistent

Emphasizes the near absence of something, highlighting its insignificance.

are almost worthless

Focuses on the lack of value or utility, suggesting minimal worth.

are practically meaningless

Highlights the lack of significance or importance, implying little to no impact.

are of negligible value

Focuses on the minimal value or worth of something.

amount to very little

Indicates that the overall effect or quantity is minimal and insignificant.

are of little consequence

Stresses the lack of importance or impact, suggesting minimal repercussions.

are hardly anything

Emphasizes the small quantity or limited extent of something.

are essentially trivial

Highlights the insignificance and lack of importance of something.

are barely perceptible

Focuses on the minimal or almost undetectable nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "are close to nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "are close to nothing" to describe something with very little value or impact. For example, "The long-term effects of the medication are, thankfully, "are close to nothing"."

What phrases are similar to "are close to nothing"?

Alternatives include "are virtually nonexistent", "amount to very little", or "are of little consequence depending on the context".

Is "are close to nothing" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "are close to nothing" might be too informal for certain contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "are negligible" or "are of minimal value".

What does it mean when something "are close to nothing"?

It means something has very little value, significance, or impact. The phrase emphasizes the near absence or insignificance of whatever is being described.