closely than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closely than" is not correct in English and cannot be used as is.
It seems to be an incomplete comparison and would typically require a context that includes a comparative adjective or adverb. Example: "She understands the topic more closely than he does."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And now her body is scrutinised more closely than ever.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The banks will be watching more closely than most.

The Economist

These developments have aligned accounting with economics and finance more closely than ever before.

University of California, Berkeley

Algorithmic systems appear to mimic our mind's inner workings more closely than previously thought.

Stanford University

These abnormal movements resemble drug-induced dyskinesia more closely than other rodent models.

Stanford University

Mars said he keeps that in mind and mikes himself more closely than he used to.

The Guardian

But few people have watched events in Abkhazia more closely than their ethnic kin, the Circassians.

The New York Times

Some young Nigerians, he said, follow American politics more closely than they do Nigerian politics.

The New Yorker

So we'll scrutinize General Clark, undoubtedly a lot more closely than he would like.

The New York Times

He attended meetings and observed workouts even more closely than usual.

The New York Times - Sports

Everywhere, though, drivers were being scrutinized even more closely than the contents of their tanks.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the comparative form "more closely than" instead of "closely than" to ensure grammatical correctness. Remember that comparisons require the addition of "more" for adverbs like "closely".

Common error

Avoid omitting the word "more" when comparing adverbs. Saying "closely than" is grammatically incorrect; always use "more closely than" to accurately convey the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely than" is intended to function as a comparative adverbial phrase, but it's grammatically incomplete. To correctly compare, the adverb 'closely' needs the addition of 'more', as Ludwig AI suggests, forming "more closely than".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "closely than" appears frequently across various sources, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it's grammatically incorrect. The proper comparative form is "more closely than". As Ludwig AI points out, this correction is essential for accurate comparison. Predominantly found in news and academic contexts, this phrase aims to compare the degree to which something is observed or related. Therefore, always remember to include "more" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more closely than

This corrects the grammatical error by including the necessary comparative adverb "more".

as closely as

This offers a comparison of equality, rather than superiority implied by "than".

in closer detail than

This alternative uses a noun phrase to describe the level of scrutiny.

with greater precision than

This shifts the focus to the accuracy of the observation or action.

more intimately than

Changes the focus to personal connection or understanding.

in more depth than

Focuses on the level of detail or analysis involved.

to a greater extent than

This option offers a formal and emphatic way to express a difference in degree.

more meticulously than

Highlights the thoroughness and care involved in the comparison.

more attentively than

Emphasizes the level of focus and care in observation.

more rigorously than

Suggests a higher standard of strictness or thoroughness.

FAQs

How do I correct the phrase "closely than"?

The correct comparative form is "more closely than". The word "more" is essential for forming the comparative degree of adverbs like "closely".

Is "closely than" grammatically correct?

No, "closely than" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form for comparing adverbs is "more closely than".

What are some alternatives to "more closely than"?

Depending on the context, you could use "as closely as", "in greater detail than", or "with greater precision than".

Why is "closely than" considered incorrect?

The adverb "closely" requires the addition of "more" to form the comparative degree when using "than" to make a comparison. Omitting "more" results in a grammatically incomplete comparison.