close door

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close door" is not correct in English as it lacks an article or verb.
You can use it in a context where you are instructing someone to shut a door, but it should be phrased correctly. Example: "Please close the door behind you when you leave."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Close door".

The New York Times

The elevator dings and her hand shoots forward, pressing hard on the "close door" button.

The New Yorker

Quickly pour 1 cup hot water into broiler tray in oven, and close door.

The New York Times

Close door and miss turn playing "Railroad Tycoon II" on computer.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Open door, close door," she said in the terse speech of no-nonsense Singapore.

The New York Times

As tempting as it is to hammer the "close door" button in a lift when you see your arch-enemy approaching, there's no point.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"I am never going to close doors.

BBC

A rabbi shouldn't close doors.

Huffington Post

Rights language can close doors to influence [ 33].

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Open and close doors.

WikiHow

Close doors behind you with ease.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to shut an entrance, use the grammatically correct phrase "close the door" or "shut the door". Omitting the article "the" or the verb is considered incorrect in standard English.

Common error

While "close door" might be understood in informal contexts, always include the article "the" (or a possessive pronoun like "your") when referring to a specific door to maintain grammatical correctness. For example, use "close the door" or "close your door" instead of just "close door".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close door" primarily functions as an imperative, a direct command or instruction, though it's grammatically incomplete. Ludwig explains that it lacks an article or verb, making it technically incorrect in standard English. The examples show its common usage, despite this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

33%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "close door" appears frequently across various contexts, Ludwig flags it as grammatically incorrect due to the absence of an article or verb. It functions primarily as an informal imperative, instructing someone to shut an entrance. For grammatically sound alternatives, consider using "close the door" or "shut the door". Remember to include the article "the" when referring to a specific door. Despite its common usage, adhering to proper grammar enhances clarity and professionalism in your writing. Remember, using grammatically incorrect sentences can reflect poorly on your content. While it may be understood, it is not considered correct, as explained by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut the door

Replaces "close" with "shut" and adds the definite article "the" for grammatical correctness.

close the door

Adds the definite article "the" to make the phrase grammatically correct.

please close the door

Adds "please" for politeness and the definite article "the" for grammatical correctness.

shut door

Uses "shut" instead of "close" and omits the article.

door closed

Uses a passive construction, implying the door is in a closed state.

close it

Uses a pronoun instead of "door", implying the object is already known.

make sure to close the door

Adds an instruction and emphasizes the action.

ensure the door is closed

Formal phrasing emphasizing the state of the door.

secure the door

Emphasizes the action of making the door secure, often implying locking it.

leave the door closed

Focuses on the state after the action, emphasizing that the door should remain closed.

FAQs

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

The phrase "close door" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use phrases like "close the door" or "shut the door".

What's a more formal way to say "close door"?

While "close door" is not grammatically correct, a more formal way to instruct someone would be "please close the door" or "kindly close the door".

Is it acceptable to say "close door" in casual conversation?

While it might be understood in very informal settings, it's generally better to use grammatically correct alternatives like "close the door" even in casual conversation.

What are some alternatives to "close door" that aren't commands?

Instead of commanding, you could describe the state of the door, such as "the door is closed", or ask a question, like "could you close the door"?