close to anything

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to anything" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate proximity or similarity to a wide range of things or concepts. Example: "In this project, we are close to anything that can improve our efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

In roughly 400 dates, he had not come close to anything resembling true love.

The New York Times

Dowd eventually undermines her own argument, since he is nowhere close to anything of the sort.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's not one of those people; he's never been close to anything like that.

The Guardian - Film

'But you won't meet real people or get up close to anything,' said much-travelled friends.

The Guardian - Travel

Jay Peak really isn't close to anything except the Canadian border, about 10 miles away.

The New York Times - Travel

BONNIE TSUI JAY PEAK Jay Peak really isn't close to anything except the Canadian border, about 10 miles away.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

"Our A&E is formally closed to anything other than life-threatening conditions.

The Guardian

And off she goes – not really closer to anything resembling justice, and with no clear next step in sight.

Vice

Was I close to completing anything I could sell?

The New Yorker

But he's too close to do anything with it and Casillas smothers it.

The New York Times

It's hard for me to imagine we would be able to come close to matching anything they could do.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to anything", ensure the context clarifies whether you mean physical proximity, similarity, or approximation.

Common error

Avoid using "close to anything" when a more specific descriptor would provide clarity. For instance, instead of saying "the result was close to anything acceptable", specify "the result was close to the expected value".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to anything" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun by indicating a state of nearness, similarity, or approximation. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing various relationships, whether physical or abstract.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to anything" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express nearness, similarity, or approximation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and high frequency across various contexts, notably in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to consider a more specific phrase for clarity in formal writing. Remember to ensure the context makes it clear if it is a physical proximity, a similarity or an approximation. By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "close to anything" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near to everything

Replaces 'anything' with 'everything', broadening the scope of proximity.

not far from anything

Expresses a similar meaning using negation and a different adjective.

in proximity to everything

Uses a more formal tone and replaces 'close' with 'in proximity'.

approaching something

Focuses on nearing a specific, implied target rather than any arbitrary thing.

verging on something

Implies being on the edge of a state or condition, rather than physical proximity.

akin to everything

Shifts the meaning to similarity or relatedness instead of physical closeness.

resembling everything

Focuses on similarity in appearance or characteristics.

similar to everything

Highlights the aspect of similarity.

bordering on everything

Implies being adjacent or nearly the same as something.

in the vicinity of everything

Indicates nearness in location.

FAQs

How can I use "close to anything" in a sentence?

You can use "close to anything" to indicate nearness, similarity, or approximation. For example: "The project isn't "close to completion"", or "His explanation wasn't "close to the truth"".

What are some alternatives to "close to anything"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "near to anything", "similar to everything", or "in proximity to everything".

Is it always appropriate to use "close to anything" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "close to anything" can sometimes be vague. In formal writing, consider if a more precise phrase would be clearer and more effective. Consider using alternatives as "near to perfection".

How does the meaning of "close to anything" change based on context?

The phrase "close to anything" can refer to physical proximity, similarity, or approximation depending on the context. For example, "The city isn't close to anything" suggests location, while "The copy wasn't "close to the original"" implies similarity.