as close as expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as close as expected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the proximity or similarity of something to what was anticipated or predicted. Example: "The results of the experiment were as close as expected to the theoretical predictions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

They expect to win 15-20 of the 225 parliamentary seats, a potentially crucial block if the result of the election is as close as expected.

The Economist

In a vote that was not as close as expected, quarterback Carson Palmer of U.S.C. won the Heisman, finishing ahead of Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, Penn State tailback Larry Johnson, Miami tailback Willis McGahee and Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey.

The New York Times - Sports

Polls close at 8 p.m. Eastern time, and if the race turns out to be as close as expected, this could be yet another American election with no conclusion by the time everyone goes to sleep.

The New York Times

The election in October 2012 was not as close as expected, though Chávez's margin of victory (about 10 percent) was considerably less than that in his triumph in 2006, when he captured almost two-thirds of the vote.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Painstakingly, he comes to terms with his shameful desire and eventually meets his fantasy: "She was about as close as I expected to come to the ideal woman...

The New York Times - Books

Though the vote wasn't as close as was expected at the time, Giffords decided to come anyway because she felt so strongly about the issue and wanted to raise the debt limit.

The Washington Post

BBC Radio 5 live snooker reporter Jamie Broughton: "Great excitement here for the final, it's not as close as many expected.

BBC

Many Democratic pundits and commentators who felt the election would be a referendum on President Donald Trump, who continues to suffer from extremely low approval numbers — however, the results were not as close as they expected.

HuffPost

In September this year, 45percentt of Scots voted for independence while not as close as some expected, that figure should be held against the fact that only four years earlier the SNP won just six out of a possible 59 Scottish spots in Parliament.

Vice

So this year's election, if it's as close as we expect, could be a whole new test of whether exit polls affect turnout.

The New York Times

What seems most likely is that this referendum will not end this debate, a fundamental argument over Egypt's future, particularly if the outcome is as close as many expect.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as close as expected", ensure the context clearly establishes what was initially anticipated or predicted to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "as close as expected" without clearly defining what the expectation was. Without a clear reference point, the phrase loses its meaning and becomes confusing to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as close as expected" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective, indicating the degree to which something matches a prior expectation. It shows the degree of approximation to a particular prediction or anticipation. Ludwig confirms this is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Academic

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as close as expected" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the similarity between an outcome and an expectation. Ludwig AI states the phrase is often found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts to indicate the accuracy of predictions. While not overly common, it serves a valuable purpose in conveying the degree to which reality aligns with prior forecasts. Related phrases include "nearly as anticipated" and "just as predicted", providing alternative ways to express similar ideas. When using the phrase, clarity is key: make sure to clearly define the original expectation to ensure the phrase remains meaningful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly as anticipated

Replaces "close" with "nearly" and "expected" with "anticipated", slightly altering the emphasis.

almost as foreseen

Substitutes "close" with "almost" and "expected" with "foreseen", suggesting a slightly less precise prediction.

just as predicted

Replaces "close" with "just", indicating a high level of accuracy in the prediction.

about as anticipated

Uses "about" instead of "as close as", conveying a similar sense of approximation.

roughly as foreseen

Employs "roughly" to replace "as close as", implying a general agreement with the prediction.

not far from what was expected

Expresses a similar idea using a negative construction, emphasizing the proximity to the expectation.

in line with expectations

Uses a more formal tone, indicating that the outcome aligned with the anticipated results.

consistent with predictions

Highlights the consistency between the outcome and the initial predictions.

approximating the forecast

Focuses on the approximation of the forecast, rather than the closeness of the outcome.

mirroring the anticipation

Emphasizes that reality is reflecting the anticipation. It's a more stylistic expression.

FAQs

How can I use "as close as expected" in a sentence?

You can use "as close as expected" to describe how similar an outcome is to a prediction. For example, "The election results were "as close as expected", confirming the accuracy of the polls."

What are some alternatives to "as close as expected"?

Some alternatives include "nearly as anticipated", "almost as foreseen", or "just as predicted", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "not as close as expected"?

Yes, "not as close as expected" is perfectly correct. It simply means the outcome was further from the prediction than anticipated.

What does "as close as expected" imply about the prediction?

It implies that the prediction was reasonably accurate. The closer the outcome is to what was expected, the more reliable the prediction is considered to be.