close to nil

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'close to nil' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to express the concept of something being nearly nonexistent. For example, you could say "My chances of success are close to nil."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

The chances of success are close to nil.

The New Yorker

The collective combat experience of these men was close to nil; their diplomatic experience was smaller.

The New Yorker

The clinical value of this genomic information would seem to be close to nil.

The New York Times - Science

The chances of him ever coaching again at the college level are close to nil.

The New York Times

The marginal cost of distributing the story more widely is close to nil, but the marginal benefit can be considerable.

The Economist

If the inspectors cannot examine trees on private property, the chances of success are close to nil, entomologists say.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

If you're also facing an incumbent, your odds inch even closer to nil.

The Guardian - Opinion

Including zero total event trials in meta-analyses moves the pooled estimate of treatment effect closer to nil, decreases its confidence interval and decreases between-study heterogeneity.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

However, such situations would be expected to occur rarely because the inclusion of these trials has opposite impacts on the treatment effect (which becomes closer to nil) and its confidence interval (which narrows).

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Conscious of its importance, Greene selected close to 100 plates for his monumental volume "Le Nil: monuments, paysages, explorations photographiques," which was printed that year in Lille.

The New York Times - Arts

We want to take off this uniform and join you!" We jumped into a boat and asked the boatman to take us closer to Qasr el-Nil bridge, which would bring us near Tahrir.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to nil", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being described as nearly nonexistent. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing a lack of something, whether it be a quantity, chance, or effect.

Common error

Avoid using "close to nil" when a more precise term is appropriate. While effective for emphasis, it lacks specificity. If a precise value is known or can be estimated, use it instead for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to nil" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying nouns by describing them as being nearly nonexistent. Ludwig examples show it used to describe chances, influence, and value as being almost zero. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

23%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to nil" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that communicates the near non-existence of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its prevalence in news and media sources, as well as scientific publications, underscores its versatility. When employing "close to nil", it's crucial to ensure the context is clear and that it genuinely reflects a situation where something is almost nonexistent. Alternatives such as "virtually nonexistent" or "almost zero" can offer similar emphasis, depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually nonexistent

Emphasizes the practical absence of something.

almost zero

Uses a numerical reference to highlight the minimal quantity.

next to nothing

Emphasizes the extremely small amount or degree of something.

practically non-existent

Highlights that, for all practical purposes, something does not exist.

as good as nothing

Indicates that something is so ineffective that it is essentially useless.

scarcely any

Emphasizes the minimal quantity or number of something.

vanishingly small

Implies that something is decreasing to the point of disappearing.

negligible amount

Highlights the insignificance of a quantity.

incredibly minute

Stresses the extreme smallness of something.

effectively absent

Indicates something is not present in effect or consequence.

FAQs

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

You can use "close to nil" to describe something that is almost nonexistent. For example, "The chances of finding survivors are "close to nil"".

What phrases are similar to "close to nil"?

Alternatives to "close to nil" include "virtually nonexistent", "almost zero", or "next to nothing".

Is it better to say "close to zero" or "close to nil"?

Both "close to zero" and "close to nil" are acceptable, but "close to nil" might be preferred when emphasizing a lack of something rather than a numerical value. Consider context when choosing between "close to zero" and "close to nil".

What is the difference between "negligible" and "close to nil"?

"Negligible" means something is so small or unimportant that it can be disregarded. "Close to nil" specifically emphasizes that something is nearly nonexistent. "Negligible" implies a lack of importance, while "close to nil" implies a lack of quantity or presence.