close to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate proximity, either physical or metaphorical, to something or someone. Example: "The store is close to my house, making it convenient for me to shop there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's close to wrongness.

The New York Times - Arts

I'm close to him.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's close to collapse.

The Guardian - Business

Living close to death.

The New Yorker

Close to N.M.

Encyclopedia Britannica

perilously close to deflation.

The Economist

Too close to home.

The New York Times - Magazine

Very close to insular.

The New Yorker

Or close to it.

The New Yorker

"I'm close to Raymond.

The New Yorker

Close to Dewar.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical locations, consider if a more specific term like "adjacent to" or "nearby" would provide greater clarity.

Common error

In formal writing, avoid overuse of "close to" when more precise alternatives like "in proximity to" or "adjacent to" could enhance clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it connects a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence, indicating a relationship of proximity, either physical or metaphorical. Examples from Ludwig show it describing locations, relationships, or states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase indicating nearness or approximation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered grammatically correct and enjoys very common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, wiki and encyclopedia articles. While versatile, choosing more precise alternatives might enhance clarity in formal writing. Be aware of potential overuse and explore synonyms like "near to" or "approximately" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near to

Indicates physical or metaphorical proximity, similar to "close to" but may imply a slightly shorter distance or closer relationship.

in proximity to

A more formal way of saying "close to", often used in technical or legal contexts to denote physical nearness.

adjacent to

Specifically indicates that something is next to or bordering something else, implying direct physical contact.

almost

Indicates nearness in terms of completion or occurrence, rather than physical distance. It suggests that something is very nearly the case.

nearly

Similar to "almost", but can also be used to express approximation or estimation.

approximately

Used to indicate an estimation or rough calculation, focusing on quantity or time rather than physical closeness.

about

A more casual way of saying "approximately", used for estimations and general statements of quantity or time.

in the vicinity of

Refers to the general area around something, without necessarily implying a very short distance.

bordering on

Indicates a state that is nearing or verging on another, often used metaphorically to describe a condition or quality.

approaching

Suggests movement towards a state or condition, implying that something is becoming nearer over time.

FAQs

What does "close to" mean?

The phrase "close to" can indicate physical nearness, as in "The store is close to my house", or it can mean "nearly" or "almost", as in "The project is close to finished".

What can I say instead of "close to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "near to", "almost", "approximately", or "in the vicinity of".

Is it correct to say "close from" instead of "close to"?

No, "close from" is not standard English. The correct phrase is "close to". For example, "The station is close to the hotel", not "The station is close from the hotel".

How can I use "close to" in a sentence about time?

You can use "close to" to indicate an approximate time. For example, "It lasted close to an hour" means it lasted approximately one hour.