close idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close idea" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a concept that is similar or related to another idea, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "While discussing the project, I realized that we were working with a close idea to what we had proposed last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Any college that really wants that information can get a pretty close idea," said Linda Jaslow, Ridgefield's guidance director.

The New York Times

Given that the UbiSOM learning parameters are mainly estimated through (overline{qe}), we can get a very close idea of the evolution of the learning parameters across these different datasets.

Journal of Big Data

Imagine if The Little Mermaid's Ursula was a monkfish instead of an octopus and you get a close idea of what Travolta is doing here.

Vice

You can also look online at other bedroom creations to give you a close idea of what you want.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Given the gap that Europe has to close, the idea was not absurd.

The Economist

That aside, Ms. Moss's reference to how close the idea of spiritual transcendence is to her personally raises another issue that I touched on earlier.

The New York Times - Arts

In those years, Godard and Truffaut remained close, sharing ideas and discussing projects.

The New Yorker

"When I heard that the landfill was closing, the idea of an overlook park came into my head.

The New York Times

After the deal closes, the idea is to split up Adelphia's subscribers.

Forbes

Open versus closed, the idea of "open", fragmentation, tablet price points, etc. Jobs doesn't mince words here — it's a must-listen.

TechCrunch

In Durban, where some historically Indian and coloured communities are in close proximity, ideas about skin tone have taken on multiple influences.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, avoid using the phrase "close idea". Instead, opt for more accurate alternatives such as "similar concept" or "related notion" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "close idea" effectively conveys proximity of concepts. This phrase often leads to ambiguity. Refine your language by using specific terms that accurately describe the relationship between ideas, such as similarity or relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close idea" does not have a well-defined grammatical function in English. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a standard or correct expression. Using the examples provided, the intended function seems to be describing a concept that is similar or related to another.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close idea" is grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear, widely understood meaning in English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it occasionally appears in news, science, and wiki contexts, it's advisable to avoid using it. Instead, opt for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "similar concept", "related notion", or "approximate understanding" to ensure clarity and effective communication. To improve writing, focus on using specific terms that accurately describe the relationship between ideas, instead of relying on the ambiguous "close idea".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

similar concept

Replaces "close idea" with a more grammatically correct and commonly used expression for resemblance.

related notion

Substitutes "close idea" with a formal and accurate term for interconnected concepts.

approximate understanding

Emphasizes the level of comprehension which is near but not exact.

rough estimate

Focuses on the inexactness of a calculated value or assessment.

general sense

Indicates a broad, non-specific awareness or feeling about something.

vague impression

Highlights the lack of clarity or detail in an idea or feeling.

relevant concept

Replaces "close idea" by specifying that the idea is relevant and pertinent to the subject at hand.

approximate parallel

Suggests a similarity that is not exact but serves as a comparison.

nearly identical thought

Conveys a high degree of similarity between two distinct ideas.

analogous concept

Uses a more sophisticated term to denote similarity based on analogy.

FAQs

What does "close idea" mean?

The phrase "close idea" is not standard English and lacks a clear, widely understood meaning. It might be interpreted as a concept that is similar or related to another idea, but it's better to use more precise language.

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

Given that "close idea" is not grammatically correct, it's best to avoid using it. Instead, consider alternatives like "similar concept" or "related notion".

What can I say instead of "close idea"?

Instead of "close idea", use phrases such as "similar concept", "related notion", or "approximate understanding" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "close idea" grammatically correct?

No, "close idea" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It is advisable to use alternative and more precise phrases to convey your intended meaning.