close to perfection

USAGE SUMMARY

"close to perfection" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is a way of describing something that is almost perfect or very nearly perfect. Example: The artist's painting was close to perfection, with its precise brushstrokes and vibrant colors.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perfect View was built to have a perfect view; but it is also close to perfection itself.

The Guardian - Travel

Close to perfection.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They come dazzlingly close to perfection.

The New York Times - Tech

Pretty much everyone is close to perfection here.

The New York Times

The crisp manual transmission was close to perfection.

The New York Times

"He was close to perfection with that line".

The New York Times

Meta-narratives demand something close to perfection from the writer.

The New York Times - Books

Deftly poignant and meaningful, as close to perfection as possible.

The Guardian - Music

He was as close to perfection as you can get.

The New York Times - Sports

Fifteen years after creating the role, familiarity has bred something very close to perfection.

The New York Times

Then again, why would he want to play differently when he is so close to perfection?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to perfection" to describe something that has minor flaws but is generally of very high quality. It suggests a realistic assessment, acknowledging imperfections while praising overall excellence.

Common error

Avoid using "close to perfection" when the flaws are significant or detract substantially from the overall quality. It's more appropriate for situations where the imperfections are negligible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to perfection" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality or state. It indicates that something is nearly perfect but may have minor flaws. Ludwig's examples show its common usage in describing various subjects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to perfection" is a commonly used phrase to describe something of very high quality that might have only minor flaws. According to Ludwig, this phrase functions as an adjectival phrase with a neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts, especially News & Media. While it conveys admiration, it realistically acknowledges limitations. Remember to use this phrase when the imperfections are negligible, and consider alternatives such as "near perfect" or "virtually flawless" to adjust the emphasis as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near perfect

A more concise synonym, directly stating the proximity to perfection.

virtually flawless

Emphasizes the lack of noticeable faults; stronger than "close to perfection".

almost ideal

Indicates the phrase is close to an ideal state, implying suitability for a specific purpose.

tantamount to perfection

Highlights that the differences are so minor that are neglectable.

approaching excellence

Highlights the ongoing progress towards a state of excellence, rather than a static near-perfect state.

bordering on impeccable

Implies a very high standard of flawlessness; more emphatic.

as good as it gets

Highlights the ultimate level of quality or performance achievable.

nearing completion

Focuses on the progress towards finishing a task or project to a high standard.

exceedingly refined

Focuses on the high degree of sophistication and precision achieved.

demonstrating high proficiency

Underlines the skill and expertise required to achieve such a high standard.

FAQs

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

You can use "close to perfection" to describe something that nearly achieves a perfect state. For example, "The chef's soufflé was "close to perfection", with a light and airy texture".

What are some alternatives to saying "close to perfection"?

Alternatives include "near perfect", "virtually flawless", or "almost ideal", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "near perfection" or "close to perfection"?

Both "near perfection" and "close to perfection" are acceptable. "Close to perfection" is slightly more common, but the choice depends on stylistic preference.

What does it mean when something is described as "tantamount to perfection"?

Saying something is "tantamount to perfection" suggests that it's so similar to perfection that any difference is insignificant or negligible.