close best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close best" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a concept of being near to the best option or outcome, but it lacks clarity and proper context. Example: "After reviewing all the candidates, I believe that John is the close best choice for the position."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sunset Boulevard cleaned up at the Tony awards, winning best musical and, for Close, best actress in a musical.

The Guardian

Words don't come close, best feeling I've ever had! Football is crazy.

BBC

A little history, in case it is applicable to my current problem: in middle school, I had a very close best friend, but she dumped me, which was really tough.

Huffington Post

Make sure you have those close best friends with you, so you can share the attention; you don't want to seem stuck up, like you're too cool for friends!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If you grab a burrito from La Taqueria and want to get buzzed after, this is your closest, best option.

Vice

Don't tell people you forgot your underwear, not even your closest best friend!

WikiHow

The reason for weighting by the neighborhood kernel is to avoid rigid overlaying which could result from focusing on the best-matching map nodes only; there may exist several closest best-matching nodes for an input data vector.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

For Station 46054, WW distribution provided a better fit than others, while WGEV being the close second best fit.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

"A casual friendship might develop into a close or best friend," she said.

The New York Times

He knows the mines will close – his best guess is Hazelwood will announce at least a partial closure this year.

The Guardian

"I believe we were pretty close to best friends," says Campbell.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "close best" with more conventional phrases like "second best" or "nearly optimal" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "close best" when you intend to convey "second best". While understandable, it's not a standard English construction and can lead to confusion. Opt for established phrases to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close best" functions as a descriptor, attempting to qualify a noun by indicating proximity to an optimal state or outcome. However, Ludwig AI indicates this is not a correct phrase and, due to its non-standard usage, its function is unclear and grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close best" is an uncommon and grammatically questionable expression that attempts to convey proximity to an optimal state. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is not considered correct and lacks clarity in standard English. The limited number of examples, predominantly from News & Media and Wiki sources, confirms its infrequent and informal usage. For clarity and precision, it's advisable to replace "close best" with established alternatives such as "second best" or "nearly optimal", depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near best

Replaces "close" with "near", a direct synonym indicating physical or metaphorical proximity.

almost best

Substitutes "close" with "almost", highlighting the near attainment of the highest standard.

nearest to best

Emphasizes proximity by using "nearest to", adding slight formality.

approaching best

Indicates a movement towards the best, suggesting a process rather than a static state.

close to optimal

Replaces "best" with "optimal", focusing on the most desirable or favorable condition.

nearly the best

Uses "nearly" to convey a similar meaning of being just short of the best.

just below best

Explicitly states the position as slightly lower than the best.

in the vicinity of best

Introduces a spatial metaphor, suggesting the subject is located near the area of the best.

comparable to best

Shifts the focus to similarity rather than proximity, indicating that the subject is similar in quality to the best.

a hair's breadth from best

Emphasizes the small distance from the best, using an idiomatic expression.

FAQs

What does "close best" mean?

The phrase "close best" is not a standard or widely recognized English expression. It seems to suggest something is near to being the best but lacks conventional grammatical structure. It is recommended to use alternatives for clarity.

How can I use "close best" in a sentence correctly?

Due to its non-standard nature, it's best to avoid using "close best". Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "almost best" or "near best" depending on the context you want to convey.

What's a better way to say "close best"?

Instead of "close best", consider using phrases like "second best", "nearly optimal", or "approaching best" to express a similar idea with greater clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "close best" grammatically correct?

No, "close best" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's an unusual construction that doesn't follow typical English grammar rules. Using established phrases will improve clarity.