closely coincide

USAGE SUMMARY

"closely coincide" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the closeness of two different things coming together or aligning. For example, "The times of the two events closely coincided."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Already the chaos of Syria's civil war has muddled the map, creating new frontiers that more closely coincide with the communities they contain.

The Washington Post

Williams's return to the Yankees' lineup may closely coincide with the return of Chili Davis, the slugger who has been out since April after ankle surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

The results of the model closely coincide with the test results in their analysis and prediction of the mechanical strength of the mortars.

Construction and Building Materials

The experimental results obtained in acid medium and the character of adsorption closely coincide with those reported for copper electrodes with high real surface area.

Electrochimica Acta

Harkin, who called the Senate's vote an "important and significant milestone," said he wanted the resolution passed yesterday to closely coincide with Juneteenth, a holiday first celebrated by former slaves to mark their emancipation.

The Washington Post

And it will almost surely engage in other joint actions in the future, when the two countries' broad national interests, and temporary political cycles, more closely coincide, as they usually do.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The results of FEA analysis closely coincided with the actual push rod failure.

Engineering Failure Analysis

The Gaelic Athletic Association closely coincided with the Irish literary and political renaissance in the late 19th century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But he readily admitted he had help, his arrival in New York closely coinciding with the arrival of free agency.

The New York Times - Sports

Hong Kong's economy has also recovered surprisingly well from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which closely coincided with the transition to Chinese sovereignty.

The New York Times

The most obvious choice, I suppose, is Beaujolais, but not Beaujolais nouveau, even though its annual release on the third Wednesday in November closely coincides with Thanksgiving.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closely coincide" to emphasize a strong alignment or concurrence between events, data sets, or concepts. This phrase works best when the relationship is not just similar but almost simultaneous or identical in pattern.

Common error

Avoid using "closely coincide" when the relationship is only loosely related or generally similar. This phrase implies a high degree of precision and overlap, so ensure the context warrants this level of alignment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely coincide" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate that two or more events, trends, or sets of data are in very close alignment or occur simultaneously. Ludwig provides examples that demonstrate its use in scientific, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closely coincide" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a significant overlap or alignment between two or more things. According to Ludwig, it's frequently used in scientific and news contexts to describe events or data points that are strongly related in time or characteristics. When writing, it's best to use this phrase when the alignment is precise, and avoid it in cases where the relationship is only general or loosely connected. Alternatives such as "align closely" or "correspond closely" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

align closely

Focuses on alignment rather than concurrence but maintains a similar level of proximity.

correspond closely

Emphasizes a strong correlation or similarity in characteristics or values.

match nearly perfectly

Highlights the degree of similarity, focusing on the near-perfect aspect of the match.

overlap significantly

Stresses the shared area or elements between two or more things.

accord very closely

Indicates agreement or harmony, with an emphasis on the degree of closeness.

are in close agreement

Highlights that two or more things are in accord, emphasizing the closeness of the agreement.

resemble closely

Focuses on the similarity in appearance or nature between two or more things.

closely approximate

Implies that something is a near-perfect estimation or representation.

are nearly identical

Focuses on the aspect of identity or indistinguishability between two or more things.

coincide to a great extent

Indicates that two or more things concur, emphasizing the degree of concurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "closely coincide" in a sentence?

You can use "closely coincide" to describe events or data points that align or overlap significantly in time or characteristics. For example, "The peak of the flu season and the start of school closely coincide."

What are some alternatives to using "closely coincide"?

Alternatives include "align closely", "correspond closely", or "overlap significantly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "closely coincide" or "closely align"?

Both "closely coincide" and "align closely" are appropriate, but "closely coincide" suggests a more direct overlap in time or occurrence, while "align closely" suggests a similarity in direction or purpose.

How does "closely coincide" differ from "generally agree"?

"Closely coincide" indicates a high degree of overlap or concurrence, whereas "generally agree" suggests a more general alignment or consensus without necessarily implying precise overlap.