close battle with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close battle with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two parties are competing closely against each other, often in a competitive context such as sports or elections. Example: "The two teams engaged in a close battle with each other throughout the match, with neither side willing to give an inch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"It was a close battle with Lewis; he had one chance, and he took it," he added.

The New York Times - Sports

For now, Mr. Forrester seems to be locked in a close battle with Mr. Schundler for the nomination.

The New York Times

But the drivers vying for the final positions in the Chase remained in a close battle, with Matt Kenseth moving past Jeff Gordon into 9th place, and Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer remaining 11th and 12th.

The New York Times - Sports

The GB men's pursuit team also had to settle for silver after a desperately close battle with New Zealand.

BBC

World champion Sebastian Vettel took his first victory of 2012 in a close battle with Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

BBC

Coleraine's Richard Chambers and his younger brother Peter both qualified from the opposing semi-final, which was won by Adam Freeman-Pask, who was locked in close battle with the elder Chamber throughout the race.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Worcester may see the closest battle, with Conservative Robin Walker trying to hang on to a slender majority of 2,982 votes.

BBC

He needed more than four hours to get past Mikhail Kukushin in the third round, but his 6-1 final set in that one was much less stressful than his closing battle with Tsonga.

Los Angeles Times

It is often difficult to square the up close battle scenes with Pentagon assertions that all is moving apace.

The New York Times

Mr. Hodges, a Democrat, is in a close battle for re-election with former Representative Mark Sanford, who has attacked Mr. Hodges's economic-development record, and Mr. Hodges made no secret of his desire to win the new factory to improve his chances in November.

The New York Times

The Mets and Phillies staged a close battle for second place, with New York coming out ahead, taking 7 victories from the 13-game season series.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close battle with", ensure the context clearly indicates a competition or conflict where the outcome is uncertain and the participants are closely matched. This phrase is effective in conveying tension and excitement in narratives.

Common error

While "close battle with" is appropriate for news and sports reporting, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing. Alternatives like "tight competition" or "close game" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close battle with" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to characterize a competitive scenario. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and well-suited for describing situations involving intense competition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

13%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close battle with" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, primarily used to describe situations with intense and uncertain competition. Ludwig AI highlights its suitability for portraying tension and excitement. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts and is generally considered to have a neutral register. While effective, consider alternatives like "tight competition with" or "fierce contest with" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be mindful of overusing it in very informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tight competition with

Replaces "battle" with "competition", focusing on the competitive aspect rather than the conflict.

fierce contest with

Substitutes "battle" with "contest" and "close" with "fierce", emphasizing the intensity of the competition.

neck-and-neck race with

Uses a racing metaphor to describe a very tight competition, implying that the competitors are very close to each other.

tight race against

Similar to the previous phrase, this emphasizes a competitive run or contest where the participants are closely matched.

intense struggle with

Replaces "battle" with "struggle", highlighting the effort and difficulty involved in the competition.

hard-fought duel with

Emphasizes the effort and determination put into the competition, with "duel" suggesting a direct confrontation.

evenly matched game against

Focuses on the balanced skill levels of the competitors, suggesting that the outcome is uncertain.

competitive clash with

Replaces "battle" with "clash", indicating a direct and forceful confrontation in a competitive context.

narrow victory over

Focuses on the outcome of a close competition, highlighting that the win was achieved by a small margin.

marginal win against

Similar to "narrow victory over", emphasizing the small difference between the winner and the other competitors.

FAQs

How can I use "close battle with" in a sentence?

"Close battle with" is used to describe a situation where two or more entities are competing intensely and are nearly equal in strength or performance. For example, "The two teams engaged in a "close battle with" each other throughout the match".

What are some alternatives to "close battle with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "tight competition with", "fierce contest with", or "neck-and-neck race with".

Is "close battle with" formal or informal?

"Close battle with" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news reporting and sports commentary. More formal alternatives might include "intense struggle".

What's the difference between "close battle with" and "close game with"?

While both phrases describe a competitive situation, "close battle with" is broader and can apply to various types of conflicts or competitions, while "close game with" specifically refers to a sports context. "Battle" also suggests a more intense or aggressive competition.