closely similar

USAGE SUMMARY

"closely similar" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it when describing two things that have many similarities but are not quite the same. For example, "The two buttons were closely similar in color, but one was slightly darker than the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To my brain, there are in my book certain focal points that are closely similar to events in his.

The New Yorker

Aside from variations in the background, the two pictures are closely similar.

The New York Times - Arts

The 'firehose' is closely similar to the streaming API.

Journal of Big Data

Individual sequences are closely similar to the classic model of a microtidal incised valley fill.

Marine Geology

Moreover, tissue distribution of intravenously injected R-III was closely similar to that of RBP.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Subsequently, all students adapted the same scale factor strategy - or a closely similar variant.

International Journal of STEM Education

The syntax of CQL for updating and retrieving information is closely similar to SQL.

Visualization in Engineering

On day 21, the spectra of exudates were closely similar between treatment PGPB and the control.

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture

By a closely similar way, we can obtain the following result.

Advances in Difference Equations

Therefore, writers with closely similar invariant feature vectors will have similar intervals for the two classes.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The last two were grouped into one class named "pool runs" owing to their closely similar open channel flow hydraulics.

Science of The Total Environment

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closely similar" to highlight substantial, but not perfect, resemblance between items. This conveys nuance, preventing overstatement.

Common error

Avoid using "closely similar" when describing items that are virtually identical. Opt for stronger terms like "identical" or "the same" to accurately reflect the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely similar" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverb-adjective combination, to describe the degree of similarity between two or more entities. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable term in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

74%

Wiki

9%

News & Media

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "closely similar" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to express a substantial resemblance without implying complete equivalence. Found most commonly in scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for objective reporting. When using "closely similar", remember to reserve it for situations where a high degree of likeness exists but notable differences remain. Alternatives such as "nearly identical" or "very much alike" can be used to modulate the strength of the similarity being conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical

Emphasizes a very high degree of similarity, suggesting almost no discernible difference.

very much alike

Highlights a strong resemblance, indicating significant common characteristics.

strikingly similar

Suggests the similarity is easily noticeable and impressive.

quite comparable

Indicates the items can be fairly equated or compared due to shared features.

essentially the same

Implies the differences are superficial, with the core aspects being equal.

largely analogous

Highlights a similarity in function or relationship, rather than appearance.

markedly resembling

Indicates a clear and distinct similarity in appearance or nature.

bearing a strong resemblance

Formal way to express significant likeness, emphasizing a clear parallel.

comparable to

Expresses the likeness of two things. It implies a certain level of equivalence for specific aspects.

akin to

Points to a relatedness or similarity in nature or quality, often in a less direct manner.

FAQs

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

You can use "closely similar" to describe two or more things that have many similarities but are not exactly the same. For instance, "The two designs were closely similar, but the second had a few minor modifications."

What are some alternatives to "closely similar"?

Alternatives include "nearly identical", "very much alike", or "strikingly similar", depending on the degree of similarity you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "closely similar" or "similarly close"?

"Closely similar" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Similarly close" is less idiomatic and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "closely similar" and "somewhat similar"?

"Closely similar" indicates a high degree of resemblance, while "somewhat similar" implies a more moderate level of similarity. The choice depends on how strong the likeness is.