close to when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time that is near or approaching a specific event or moment. Example: "I need to know when the meeting is scheduled, as I want to arrive close to when it starts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

On one such occasion, close to when he had to tell the Lions selectors his decision, he discussed his dilemma.

Independent

A friend of mine died in Michigan, that I was close to when I was in high school.

The Guardian - Music

"There are a lot of reasons you want to make those decisions as close to when the ads run as possible".

The New York Times

Snowden was already in Hong Kong when authorities began looking for him, whereas Ganzeer makes his whistleblower flee "quite close to when the leak happens".

The Guardian - Books

For Princeton, seeing its season end in the final seconds against mighty Kentucky must have felt uncomfortably close to when the 1989 Tigers, seeded 16th, came so close to felling No. 1 Georgetown, a team led by Alonzo Mourning.

The New York Times

Since this early date for the San culture is close to when modern humans first left Africa and reached Europe, proponents of the abrupt-change hypothesis took the findings as good news.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

"We went to whichever we were closest to when we got the feeling," Mr. Flynn said.

The New York Times

In the second book, he seems to place its onset closer to when he was seven.

The Guardian - Books

From a personal poInt of view, I wanteDecemberce to do other things".

Huffington Post

For analysis, WBC count and differential and CRP levels were used from the time point closest to when the EAA was performed.

Critical Care

The term θ F  should match the intuition that it becomes darker (close to zero) when radiant objects are closer to the camera when fog is present.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to when", ensure that the sentence structure clearly establishes the relationship between the two events. This avoids ambiguity and ensures that the reader understands the intended meaning.

Common error

While "close to when" is grammatically correct, overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive. Opt for more precise alternatives such as "shortly before", "near the time of", or "around the time that" to vary your expression and maintain a formal tone in academic and professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to when" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a relative clause, indicating that an event happened in temporal proximity to another event. Ludwig examples show it's frequently used to connect events in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to when" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate temporal proximity between events. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread application across various contexts. While it's versatile, be mindful of the register and opt for more formal alternatives in academic or professional writing to avoid repetitiveness. By understanding its function and context, you can effectively use "close to when" to connect events in your writing and enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near the time that

Replaces "close to" with "near the", focusing on temporal proximity.

around the time when

Substitutes "close to" with "around the", suggesting an approximate timeframe.

in proximity to when

Uses more formal language to convey the same meaning of temporal closeness.

at the point that

Highlights a specific moment in time that's near another event.

in the vicinity of when

Employs a more descriptive term for nearness, focusing on the surrounding timeframe.

not long before

Indicates a short period preceding the specified event.

shortly before

Similar to "not long before", emphasizing the brevity of the time interval.

in anticipation of

Focuses on the period just before an expected event.

leading up to

Highlights the period of time that precedes and prepares for an event.

in the immediate run-up to

A more emphatic way of saying "leading up to", stressing the urgency and closeness.

FAQs

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

Use "close to when" to describe events happening in temporal proximity. For example, "The deal was announced "close to when" the fiscal year ended."

What are some alternatives to "close to when"?

You can use alternatives like "near the time that", "around the time when", or "shortly before" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "close to when" in formal writing?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. However, in highly formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "in proximity to when" or "at the point that" for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "close to when" and "just before"?

"Close to when" implies a broader timeframe, while "just before" indicates a very short interval. For example, "The announcement came "close to when" the deadline was approaching" suggests a period of days or weeks, whereas "The announcement came just before the deadline" indicates hours or minutes.