close behind

USAGE SUMMARY

"close behind" is a perfectly acceptable phrase that is frequently used in written English.
It is generally used to describe a person, object, or event that is following directly after another. For example: "John ran quickly, with his dog close behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Close behind are cyberattacks.

The New York Times

Movies are close behind".

The New York Times

Close behind are Oslo, Paris and London.

The Economist

Mr. Weiner was close behind, with $643,550.

The New York Times

Close behind are the vacuum cleaners.

The New York Times - Style

Trailing close behind is Intel.

Forbes

Novartis is close behind, there.

Forbes

Close behind is Oracle BMW Racing, led by Larry Ellison.

Forbes

Myers follows close behind, unnoticed.

Los Angeles Times

Close behind is AJ Blumnefeld gathering 25%.

Los Angeles Times

Nevada was close behind.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close behind" to clearly indicate that something or someone is following directly after something or someone else, maintaining proximity. This phrase is effective in creating a sense of immediacy or competition.

Common error

Avoid using "close behind" when the entities are not actually near each other in space or time. The phrase implies a tight following, so ensure this is accurate to avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close behind" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, describing how an action is performed or the state of something relative to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes proximity in space or time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

14%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close behind" is a commonly used adverbial phrase that describes something or someone following very near another. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and versatile. It appears frequently in news, business, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to slightly formal tone. To enhance clarity, remember to use "close behind" only when the entities are genuinely close in proximity, whether physically or figuratively. For alternative expressions, consider options like "trailing closely" or "immediately following" to better suit specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trailing closely

Emphasizes the act of following closely from behind, highlighting the distance.

immediately following

Highlights that the succession is happening in almost the same moment.

right after

Suggests immediacy in sequence, but is less formal.

in close pursuit

Implies active chasing or striving to catch up.

hot on the heels of

An idiomatic expression indicating very close following or pursuit.

following on someone's heels

An informal way to indicate that something is coming after something else.

tailgating

Typically used in the context of driving, but can be used metaphorically.

second in line

Emphasizes the position of being directly after the leader.

in the wake of

Suggests following as a consequence or result.

shadowing

Suggests closely following, often with a sense of observation or mimicry.

FAQs

How can I use "close behind" in a sentence?

Use "close behind" to indicate something or someone is following another with little distance or time separating them. For example, "The runner sprinted, with his competitor "trailing closely"".

What are some alternatives to saying "close behind"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "immediately following", "hot on the heels of", or "in close pursuit" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "close behind" in formal writing?

Yes, "close behind" is acceptable in formal writing. It is commonly used in news reports, academic papers, and business documents to describe a sequence of events or rankings. But eventually use more formal alternative when possible.

What's the difference between "close behind" and "far behind"?

"Close behind" indicates that something or someone is closely following, suggesting nearness. "Far behind", on the other hand, suggests a significant distance or gap between two entities, indicating that one is lagging significantly.