close associate with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close associate with" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "close associate of" or "close associate to." Example: "He is a close associate of the company’s founder."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Most of the females in my study have at least one close associate with whom they always hang out," Dr. Lehmann said.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In family discussions that started in 2010 and fizzled out twice under "do we really want to do this" anxiety, the brothers left their respective intelligence agencies in March 2015, taking a handful of close associates with them.

The Washington Post

"When the transitional governing body is established, Assad and his close associates with blood on their hands will have no role in Syria," declared the London 11 – the core members of the Friends of Syria group.

The Guardian

Eleven nations – including the US, UK and France – issued a more recent London communiqué following a meeting in October that only stated the obvious when it said that Assad and his close associates with blood on their hands must step aside.

The Guardian - Opinion

It reiterated that a transitional government should be established as part of a political settlement, and said that when the transitional body was formed, President Bashar al-Assad and his close associates "with blood on their hands will have no role in Syria".

The New York Times

The overarching modernisation of economies and reducing poverty through higher taxes, and thus greater social transfers, and also higher levels of social protection, are all revealed to be close associated with the level of employment in informal sector enterprises.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

By contrast, Wallace (2006) argues that an interpretation of QFT should be based on what he calls "Lagrangian" QFT, which are close associates with what is characterized above as the pragmatic approach.

SEP

Now, as the 2012 presidential race heats up, Republicans have continued to emphasize the ties between Solyndra and the Obama White House, in effort to paint the president as a Washington insider who favors his close associates with cushy business deals.

Huffington Post

A grand jury indictment filed in San Diego federal court charges Alvaro Lopez Nuñez, 38, and five close associates with doling out drugs to smugglers and smuggling the narcotics into the U.S. themselves from May 2005 to August 2016.

Los Angeles Times

Otherwise, nephrogenic rests are close associated with Wilms tumor and regular follow-up is required to ensure early detection of malignant transformation.

BMC Pediatrics

Gene Ontology (GO) annotations for these genes are enriched for 'phototransduction' and 'signal transduction', indicating a close associated with normal physiological functions within head (Table 1).

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to someone you work closely with, use "close associate of" or "close colleague to" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "with" after "close associate". The correct preposition is "of" or "to". For instance, use "a close associate of the director" or "a close colleague to the director" instead of "a close associate with the director".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close associate with" functions as a descriptive phrase intended to highlight a close relationship or affiliation. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is not grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close associate with" is an attempt to describe a strong connection between individuals. However, as Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "close associate of" or "close colleague to". While the search results show some instances of the incorrect phrase, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts, it's advisable to use the grammatically correct alternatives for clarity and professionalism. Consider using synonyms like "intimate colleague of" or "close partner of" to convey the intended meaning more effectively and accurately. Always prioritize grammatical correctness to maintain credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close colleague to

Replaces the preposition "with" with the preposition "to", retaining the core meaning.

intimate colleague of

Replaces "associate" with "colleague" and uses "of" instead of "with".

close partner of

Substitutes "associate" with "partner", implying a working or business relationship; uses "of" instead of "with".

near confidant of

Substitutes "associate" with "confidant", implying a closer, more trusting relationship; uses "of" instead of "with".

trusted advisor of

Replaces "associate" with "advisor", indicating a reliance on the person's counsel; uses "of" instead of "with".

close ally of

Replaces "associate" with "ally", suggesting a supportive and cooperative relationship; uses "of" instead of "with".

inseparable companion of

Replaces "associate" with "companion" and adds "inseparable" to highlight constant presence and closeness; uses "of" instead of "with".

intimate acquaintance of

Replaces "associate" with "acquaintance" while adding "intimate" to emphasize the closeness; uses "of" instead of "with".

staunch supporter of

Substitutes "associate" with "supporter", emphasizing loyalty and advocacy; uses "of" instead of "with".

bosom friend of

Replaces "associate" with "friend" and adds "bosom" to intensify the friendship; uses "of" instead of "with".

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "close associate with"?

The correct phrasing is "close associate of" or "close colleague to". For example, "He is a close associate of the CEO" is grammatically sound.

What does "close associate of" mean?

It refers to someone who is closely connected or affiliated with another person, often in a professional or influential capacity. Consider using synonyms like "intimate colleague of" or "near confidant of" for variety.

Can I use "close associate to" instead of "close associate of"?

While "close associate of" is more common, "close colleague to" is also acceptable. Choose the phrasing that best fits the context and sounds most natural to you.

Are there other ways to describe a close professional relationship?

Yes, you can use terms like "close partner of", "trusted advisor of", or "staunch supporter of", depending on the specific nature of the relationship.