are trailing closely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are trailing closely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one entity is following another very closely, often in a competitive context. Example: "In the race, the two leading runners are trailing closely behind each other, making it difficult to predict the winner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The financiers behind Google's 2004 initial offering continue to dominate the Midas list, which is based on five-year results, but they now are trailed closely by venture capitalists who helped launch such foreign-bred successes as Shanghai chip foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International, Luxembourg's phone-over-Internet service Skype and Chinese search engine Baidu.

Forbes

Jeff Zucker, the chief executive of NBC Universal, which is trailing closely behind the three other big networks, seems equally chastened.

The New York Times - Magazine

Meanwhile, JD is trailing closely through a flurry of deals with key brick-and-mortar players like supermarket group Yonghui and the American giant Walmart.

TechCrunch

She was trailed closely by an aide who kept journalists at bay.

The New Yorker

At last year's Darpa Robotics Challenge, he was trailed closely by a handler who at times acted as a buffer between Mr. Page and would-be cellphone photographers.

The New York Times - Tech

This binding affinity was trailed closely by AF750, whereas Cy3.5 and Cy5.5 both exhibited approximately four-fold less binding than GH680.

Plosone

The fact that the bodyguard was not present when the gang struck has raised speculation in Paris that the thieves had either been trailing and observing her extremely closely, or they had been tipped off by someone within her entourage that Duvier was not present.

The Guardian

The fact that the bodyguard was not present when the gang struck has raised speculation in Paris that the thieves had either been trailing and observing Kardashian West extremely closely and took advantage of her lack of security at that moment, or they had been possibly tipped off by somebody close to the star's entourage that he was not there.

The Guardian - Music

"They're trailing away.

The New Yorker

They were trailing against Temple.

The New York Times - Sports

NBC is trailing, of course.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are trailing closely" to clearly convey that one entity is following another with minimal distance, often in a competitive scenario or during a chase.

Common error

Avoid using "are trailing closely" when the entities are not actually near each other. This phrase implies a high degree of proximity, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation you are describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are trailing closely" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action of following someone or something very closely. This implies proximity and often a competitive or observational context, as supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are trailing closely" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the action of following something or someone very closely. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While the phrase is adaptable to different contexts, it is important to ensure the context involves a situation of proximity. Related phrases include "are closely following" and "are right behind". Though no exact matches were found in the provided examples, the phrase's overall utility and clarity make it a valuable option for writers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are closely following

Emphasizes the action of following in proximity, differing in the verb choice.

are right behind

Indicates immediate proximity in a chase or competition.

are hot on the heels of

Suggests a very close pursuit, often in a competitive sense.

are tailing closely

Implies following, often used in surveillance contexts.

are shadowing closely

Suggests a more covert form of following, like a shadow.

are hard on the track of

Highlights the determination in the pursuit.

are breathing down the neck of

Indicates intense pressure due to close proximity.

are keeping pace with

Focuses on maintaining the same speed or progress.

are one step behind

Emphasizes the small distance separating the entities.

are at the heels of

A more figurative way of saying closely pursuing.

FAQs

How can I use "are trailing closely" in a sentence?

Use "are trailing closely" to describe situations where something or someone is following another with minimal distance. For example, "In the polls, candidate B "are trailing closely" behind candidate A".

What can I say instead of "are trailing closely"?

You can use alternatives like "are closely following", "are right behind", or "are hot on the heels of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "are trailing closely" or "are closely trailing"?

"Are trailing closely" is the more common and natural-sounding phrase. "Are closely trailing" is less frequently used but not grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "are trailing closely" and "are at the heels of"?

"Are trailing closely" indicates a general proximity in following, while "are at the heels of" is a more figurative expression suggesting very close pursuit, often in a competitive sense.