closely matched

USAGE SUMMARY

"closely matched" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
For example, you could say: "The colors of the two fabrics were closely matched."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's close; we're very closely matched".

BBC

They closely matched.

The Guardian

His recollections closely matched Maisara's.

The New York Times

Every fight was exciting and closely matched.

Independent

She and Shirocco Star seem closely matched.

The Guardian - Sport

But they're closely matched in age.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Chemical analysis results closely matched expected results.

Electrochimica Acta

The two teams jabbed and dodged, closely matched.

The New Yorker

And in many cases, text and image are closely matched.

The New York Times - Books

"Pitching-wise, I think we're pretty closely matched.

The New York Times - Sports

Overall, though, these two teams are very closely matched.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closely matched" to describe a precise correspondence or similarity between two or more items. It is particularly effective when emphasizing accuracy or a lack of significant difference.

Common error

Avoid using "closely matched" in very informal or casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "very similar" or "almost the same" are often more appropriate in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely matched" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying nouns to indicate a high degree of similarity or correspondence. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closely matched" is a versatile adjective phrase used to convey a high degree of similarity or correspondence between two or more entities. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. While it is suitable for both formal and informal settings, it is essential to consider the register and choose simpler alternatives in more casual conversations. Understanding its function and purpose, as well as potential errors, will enable you to use it effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical

Focuses on the degree of resemblance, implying a very small difference.

virtually indistinguishable

Suggests that the differences are so small as to be unnoticeable.

very similar

Emphasizes the likeness between two or more things.

almost the same

Highlights how close something is to being identical.

highly comparable

Highlights the ability to compare items favorably, suggesting they are alike in key aspects.

in close agreement

Indicates alignment or concurrence, often used for data or opinions.

well-aligned

Highlights a correct or desirable matching of elements.

strongly correlated

Implies a statistical relationship, suggesting a proportional link.

remarkably alike

Stresses the surprising extent of similarity.

finely attuned

Suggests precision in matching or alignment.

FAQs

What does "closely matched" mean?

"Closely matched" means that two or more things are very similar or nearly identical. The phrase implies a high degree of correspondence or alignment.

What can I say instead of "closely matched"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly identical", "very similar", or "highly comparable" depending on the context.

Is "closely matched" formal or informal?

"Closely matched" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used in news, science, and academic writing, but can also appear in everyday conversation when precision is needed.

How to use "closely matched" in a sentence?

You can use "closely matched" to describe various scenarios. For instance, "The experimental results were "closely matched" to the predicted outcomes", or "The two teams are "closely matched" in skill".