closely equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closely equal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that are very similar in value, amount, or quality. Example: "The two proposals were closely equal in terms of cost and benefits, making the decision difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

While my experience doesn't even closely equal what it would be like to run a country, the Bible says not to despise humble beginnings.

The Guardian - Opinion

DME and EtOH are two isomer fuels, with the potential for production from renewable sources, that have virtually identical thermochemistry; i.e. very closely equal heat of combustion and adiabatic flame temperature.

Combustion and Flame

Comparing these two distinct approaches, it is observed that the discrete material forces at the crack tip are closely equal to the tip driving forces, but with different signs, confirming that the lattice approach approximates the values of crack tip material forces using Eshelby-stress distributions.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

As and are closely equal, we could apply them interchangeably.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The month for which average radiation is most closely equal to the monthly average over the whole measurement period is representative of the TMY data for that month.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

The mortality rates of PDAC closely equal its incidence [ 3], and the overall 5-year survival rate in patients with PDAC after diagnosis is less than 5%, with no apparent improvement over the past 25 years [ 4, 5].

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The intonation is decent when the seventh, and nineteenth fret notes closely equals their corresponding harmonic pitches.

WikiHow

Marisol Espinoza, Peru's vice president, comes from a community that works closely with Equal Exchange.

The Guardian

A vital aspect in reforming the Bank (and the IMF) is to ensure that these Bretton Woods "twins" remember that they are part of the UN system and co-operate closely, as equal partners, with other UN organisations such as UNDP, Unicef, WHO, FAO and Unesco.Mr Wolfensohn is right in trying to "shift authority from Washington to offices in the countries where the Bank makes loans".

The Economist

The scant information on marine mammals from the tropical and equatorial fringe of the Northern Hemisphere generally also report tDDT as the main pollutant, followed closely or equaled by PCBs [ 43].

BMC Ecology

Having two products as closely and with equal sophistication, it is preferable to jump to one in which the possibilities of sophisticating production are greater.

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closely equal" when you want to emphasize that two values, quantities, or qualities are nearly the same, but not exactly identical. This can add nuance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "closely equal" when you mean to express that two things are precisely the same. "Equal" alone is sufficient in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely equal" functions as a descriptive phrase, where the adverb "closely" modifies the adjective "equal". According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It denotes a state of near equivalence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "closely equal" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English, indicating a near equivalence between two or more items. Ludwig AI affirms its validity, highlighting its function as a descriptive phrase. While it is commonly found in scientific and news contexts, it also appears in other domains such as wikis. The phrase serves to add nuance to descriptions, suggesting a high degree of similarity without exact identity. For situations requiring exact equality, the term "equal" alone suffices. Alternatives include phrases like "nearly equivalent" or "almost identical", allowing writers to choose the most appropriate expression for their specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly equivalent

Emphasizes near equivalence but slightly less formal.

almost identical

Highlights a high degree of similarity, bordering on indistinguishable.

substantially the same

Stresses the similarity in substance or essence.

virtually indistinguishable

Focuses on the practical inability to tell the difference.

comparable to

Highlights the aspect of being able to be compared, often implying similarity.

roughly equivalent

Suggests a less precise equivalence.

approximately the same

Indicates a numerical or quantitative similarity with some degree of tolerance.

much alike

A more informal way of expressing similarity.

tantamount to

Indicates that the two things are functionally equivalent, often in terms of consequences.

akin to

Highlights a resemblance or similarity in nature or character.

FAQs

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

You can use "closely equal" to describe items that are nearly the same in value or amount. For example, "The two estimates were "nearly equivalent"."

What's a good alternative to "closely equal"?

Alternatives include phrases like "almost identical", "nearly equivalent", or "substantially the same" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "closely equal" or "approximately equal"?

Both phrases are correct, but "approximately equal" might be more suitable when dealing with numerical values, while "closely equal" can apply to more abstract qualities. They are "largely interchangeable" in many situations.

Can "closely equal" be used to describe people's abilities?

While less common, you could use "closely equal" to describe abilities if you mean they are nearly the same. For instance, "Their skill levels are "comparable"."