close to works

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to works" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect expression, possibly intended to convey proximity to something functioning or being effective. Example: "The new strategy is close to works, but we still need to refine it further."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And the drawings seem a bit close to works that Adrian Pipe made 30 years ago.

The New York Times

The Upshot concludes that "Mr. Cruz's debate style is much more complicated than that of his fellow Republican candidates, close to works like Beowulf and Don Quixote".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"People really do want to be close to work".

The New York Times

No malaria vaccine comes close to working 100 percent of the time.

The New York Times - Health

You're close to work; you can be with your friends," Mr. Goldfarb said.

The New York Times

He even came close to working for Smith's brother, Brian.

The Guardian - Sport

Atomised is, however, that rare thing, a novel of ideas which comes close to working.

The Guardian - Books

It felt odd that his apartment was close to work yet not reachable on foot.

The New York Times

Since my husband and I work in San Francisco with frequent evening obligations, we must live close to work.

The New York Times

In any given scene, the Farrellys throw three ideas on the screen, only one of which comes close to working.

The New Yorker

At one point, he tells us, he came close to working for Leonard Garment, the Republican Washington lawyer-macher.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey similarity to existing works, specify the type of "works" (e.g., artworks, research works) for clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "close to works" when you mean "similar to other projects" or "approaching completion". This construction is not grammatically sound and can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to works" is typically intended to express similarity or proximity to existing creations or projects. Ludwig AI highlights that it is not a standard English construction, suggesting it is an incomplete or incorrect expression. It appears in contexts trying to relate something to established accomplishments.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to works" is not a standard or grammatically correct English expression, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. It appears infrequently and typically aims to convey similarity or proximity to existing projects or creations. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's best to use alternative phrases like "similar to existing studies" or "approaching completion" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. Although it may appear in various contexts, News & Media and Scientific sources are the most frequent. Always consider rephrasing for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

similar to achievements

Focuses on the resemblance to accomplished tasks or outcomes rather than mere activity.

akin to completed projects

Emphasizes the similarity to finished endeavors, highlighting the state of being done.

approaching operational status

Highlights the transition towards becoming fully functional or in working order.

nearly functional pieces

Underscores the almost-ready state of individual items or components.

bordering on effective methods

Suggests a state of almost achieving effective results or approaches.

verging on successful endeavors

Indicates a movement toward reaching successful outcomes in various undertakings.

almost like finished creations

Highlights the resemblance to completed artistic or inventive outputs.

close to being achievements

Indicates the state of nearing the status of accomplishments.

nearing the realm of effectiveness

Suggests a movement toward the condition of producing intended results.

in proximity to finalized tasks

Emphasizes the closeness in relation to fully completed duties or assignments.

FAQs

How can I correctly express similarity to existing bodies of work?

Instead of "close to works", use phrases like "similar to existing studies", "reminiscent of prior research", or "akin to previous projects" to convey the intended meaning clearly.

What is a more grammatically correct way to say something is 'almost like finished creations'?

Use phrases such as "nearly completed projects", "approaching finalization", or "verging on completion" for better grammatical accuracy.

When can 'close to' be appropriately used with a noun?

Use "close to" with a singular noun or a concept, for example, "close to the truth" or "close to the end". Avoid using it directly before the plural noun "works" without a clearer context.

Is there a difference between 'close to work' and "close to works"?

"Close to work" usually refers to physical proximity to a workplace. "Close to works", as pointed out by Ludwig, is not standard English and often requires rephrasing to something like "similar to completed projects" depending on the intended meaning.