cleave more closely

USAGE SUMMARY

"cleave more closely" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the act of adhering closely to something, such as a principle or idea. For example: "In her new role, she aims to cleave more closely to the company's values." Alternative expressions include "stick more closely" and "adhere more closely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The banks are also happy that regulators have promised to cleave more closely to international rules.

The Economist

Even so, Mr. Toita agreed with mainstream opinion that Japan should cleave more closely to the United States.

The New York Times

Recent reports suggest the film may cleave more closely than previously expected to the original novel in terms of genuine erotic content, with around 20 minutes of total footage given over to sex scenes.

The Guardian - Film

Mr. Ritter says "The Glory of Their Times" came out of a complex web of desires: to capture voices before they were stilled (Ty Cobb had just died when he began in 1961); to pay homage to his father -- his "Daddy," as he always calls him -- also recently dead; to cleave more closely to his own young son, whom he saw only on weekends, and with whom he shared little but a love of the game.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

While the movies were floundering at the box office prior to Abrams' appointment, they cleaved more closely to a genuine definition of science fiction than the "space opera" tack taken by the Lost creator, who has always made it clear he was not a Star Trek fan in any case.

The Guardian - Film

There are 21 international editions of Vogue, and most cleave more or less to the formula that Wintour has established.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Views on both sexual harassment and the Me Too movement specifically cleave more sharply along political lines than along gender lines.

Huffington Post

Based on research gathered from surveying Asian business leaders and human resources and AI professionals, this report argues that AI's future will cleave much more closely to the positive outcome.

MIT Technology Review

Presenilin 1 (PS1) is the catalytic unit of γ-secretase which cleaves more than one hundred substrates.

Journal of Structural Biology

Our nation seems cleaved more than at any time I can remember.

Forbes

Today, our digital shadows cleave ever-more-closely to our real-world identities, reflecting our interests, activities and relationships.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cleave more closely" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and significant shift towards stricter adherence to a principle, standard, or relationship. It suggests a conscious decision to align more faithfully.

Common error

Avoid using "cleave more closely" in contexts where a lighter, less formal expression of agreement or similarity is more appropriate. The phrase carries a sense of gravitas that might be excessive in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cleave more closely" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. It describes the act of adhering or conforming to something with greater precision or fidelity. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cleave more closely" is a formal adverbial phrase used to describe a deliberate shift towards greater adherence or alignment. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical usage is correct, though relatively rare. Primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it conveys a sense of commitment to a particular standard or principle. While alternatives like "adhere more strictly" or "stick more closely" exist, "cleave more closely" carries a more formal connotation. Remember to use this phrase when emphasizing a significant and intentional movement toward stricter conformity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adhere more strictly

Changes "cleave" to "adhere" and "closely" to "strictly", focusing on strict adherence.

stick more closely

Replaces "cleave" with "stick", offering a more informal synonym for adherence.

conform more closely

Substitutes "cleave" with "conform", emphasizing alignment with a standard or expectation.

align more closely

Uses "align" instead of "cleave", highlighting the act of bringing into agreement or correspondence.

follow more faithfully

Replaces "cleave" with "follow" and "closely" with "faithfully", stressing loyalty and accuracy in adherence.

keep closer to

Changes the structure to emphasize maintaining proximity or adherence.

hold closer to

Similar to "keep closer to", but emphasizes the act of retaining or maintaining adherence.

maintain closer ties

Shifts the focus to relationships and connections, implying stronger bonds.

gravitate more toward

Suggests a natural inclination or tendency to move closer to something.

become more integrated with

Highlights the process of merging or combining more closely with something else.

FAQs

How can I use "cleave more closely" in a sentence?

You can use "cleave more closely" to describe adhering strictly to a principle, standard, or relationship. For example, "The organization decided to "cleave more closely" to its original mission statement".

What are some alternatives to "cleave more closely"?

Alternatives include "adhere more strictly", "stick more closely", or "conform more closely", depending on the specific context.

Is "cleave more closely" a formal or informal expression?

"Cleave more closely" is generally considered a formal expression, best suited for professional or academic writing rather than casual conversation.

What does it mean to "cleave more closely" to international rules?

To ""cleave more closely"" to international rules means to adhere more strictly and faithfully to those rules, indicating a stronger commitment to compliance.