close with whom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close with whom" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing relationships or connections, but it is awkward and not commonly used. Example: "I often wonder who I feel close with whom in my life."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Speaking of Mr. Close, with whom he studied in Chicago, Mr. Besser said: "His long form improv makes people funnier than they are by allowing them to use the group mind".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In "Three Friends in a Hammock," the insular world of friend-love is made literal as a trio of like-minded women neurotically contemplate who is closer with whom, whose relationship is in a better state, and other intricacies of platonic affection.

Huffington Post

Faÿ had been a close friend of Stein's since the early twenties — one of the few close friends with whom she didn't eventually quarrel and break.

The New Yorker

They found that even in the face of this major life loss, women with close friends with whom they can share their burdens fare better than women who lack close friendships.

Huffington Post

I have a few close friends with whom I can practice speaking Italian, but I mostly maintain fluency through reading.

The New York Times - Books

Do you now have a close friend with whom you have strong and wide-ranging political disagreements?

The New York Times

"Most of the females in my study have at least one close associate with whom they always hang out," Dr. Lehmann said.

The New York Times - Science

Among the close friends with whom Mr. Ulrich and his wife dine regularly are the openly gay, progressive Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, also of Queens, and his partner.

The New York Times

"It is time to call for Ben's ouster from that position," Ms. Palin wrote to Frank Bailey, a former close aide with whom she has since split.

The New York Times

Paul Schwartfeger, chair of the Dungeness residents' association, told the Guardian: "EDF is a close neighbour with whom we have shared Dungeness for many years.

The Guardian

A close friend, with whom she had been drinking coffee, was cut in two in front of her by the shrapnel from an Assad regime barrel bomb.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For improved clarity, consider rephrasing "close with whom" to a more common structure such as "close to whom" or "whom I am close to".

Common error

Avoid using "close with whom" in formal writing. While grammatically understandable, it can sound stilted. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "close to whom" or restructuring the sentence to use "whom I am close to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close with whom" functions as a prepositional phrase, specifically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a relationship or association. While grammatically sound, Ludwig AI marks this as not standard written English, advising caution in its use.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "close with whom" is not the most common or elegant choice in modern English. Ludwig AI indicates that it can sound awkward, recommending alternatives such as "close to whom" or rephrasing the sentence. Its use is primarily found in news and media contexts where precision is valued, but less so in more casual settings. For clearer and more natural writing, consider the suggested alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close to whom

Replaces "with whom" with the more common preposition "to", resulting in a more standard construction.

whom I am close to

Restructures the sentence to end with the preposition, a more colloquial way of expressing the same idea.

with whom I am close

Places the prepositional phrase at the beginning, slightly altering the emphasis but maintaining the core meaning.

people I feel close to

Uses "people" instead of "whom", simplifying the structure and making it more direct.

those with whom I am close

Emphasizes a group of people, keeping a similar formal tone.

individuals I share a close bond with

Replaces the direct phrasing with a more descriptive and evocative expression of connection.

associates I maintain a close relationship with

Formal alternative, replacing direct proximity with ongoing interaction.

people I have a strong connection with

Focuses on the strength of the relationship rather than physical or emotional closeness.

those I am very fond of

Expresses affection and positive feelings, rather than just closeness.

people I deeply care about

Shifts focus to concern and emotional investment, rather than just proximity.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "close with whom"?

A more common way to express the same idea is "close to whom" or "whom I am close to".

Is "close with whom" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "close with whom" is an awkward phrasing. It's better to use "close to whom" which is more conventional.

When should I avoid using "close with whom"?

Avoid using "close with whom" in formal writing or speech. It is preferable to use more common and natural-sounding alternatives.

What does "close with whom" mean?

"Close with whom" refers to people with whom you have a strong or intimate relationship. However, the phrasing itself is not standard.