closely the same

USAGE SUMMARY

"closely the same" is not correct in written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "very similar" or "nearly identical". Example: The two items were nearly identical in size and shape.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The copolymers possess closely the same, relatively high thermal and thermooxidative stabilities as that of PNIPAAm.

Polymer

The pattern of the consonants is the formal vehicle of the substantive argument, the argument that what is asserted to be different is really, if you look closely, the same.

The New York Times

Of course she has examined Ms. Netrebko's performance closely, the same way she does conductors' scores (not piano reductions) of the operas she sings, the same way she visited the Escorial outside Madrid to get a feeling for the walls, the floors, the energies pent up in "Don Carlo".

The New York Times - Arts

The Modal frequencies were closely the same which confirmed technique of simulation.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

Healy said that acquisition in a way is representative of bigger changes in the mobile ad industry, which follows closely the same evolutions we've seen across digital advertising as a whole.

TechCrunch

Whereas, B-SWCNT and MQW NDTs are closely the same; for a given incident pump fluence, the amplitude of M-SWCNT NDT is clearly greater than B-SWCNT and MQW NDTs (six times greater at 10 μJ cm-2, for example).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

You'll work closely with the same people across a range of subjects.

Columbia University

It details a two-stage story, set closely within the same frame and the same place.

Independent

But listen closely all the same, because Ms. Packer truly practices what she preaches.

The New York Times

In Germany, August Wilhelm Iffland's productions closely followed the same reforms, and costume designers were urged to emulate the past.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Watch brands have long linked themselves so closely to the same sporting events and institutions that it is hard to imagine one without the other.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "closely the same" with more accurate terms like "nearly identical" or "virtually the same" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Do not use "closely the same" as it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for established phrases such as "very similar" or "almost identical" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely the same" attempts to function as an adjective phrase, aiming to describe a high degree of similarity or equivalence. However, it's grammatically flawed, as Ludwig AI points out.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "closely the same" is used to express a strong similarity, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies this issue, recommending alternatives like "nearly identical" or "very similar". Although examples exist across various domains such as science, news, and academia, it's best to use grammatically sound alternatives, especially in formal writing. For clarity and precision, consider using "nearly identical", "virtually the same", or "very similar".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical

Emphasizes an almost perfect match with minimal differences.

virtually the same

Highlights that for all practical purposes, the things are equivalent.

almost indistinguishable

Focuses on the difficulty in telling the difference between the items.

very similar

A general term indicating a strong resemblance but allowing for some differences.

much alike

Indicates a considerable degree of similarity.

largely equivalent

Suggests that the items are equal in most significant aspects.

practically equivalent

Highlights functional equivalence despite potential minor variations.

comparable

Emphasizes that the items can be fairly compared due to their similarities.

corresponding closely

Focuses on how well the items match or align with each other.

matching closely

Highlights the high degree of agreement or correspondence.

FAQs

What phrases can replace "closely the same"?

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

Is "closely the same" grammatically correct?

No, "closely the same" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "almost identical" or "very similar".

How to use "very similar" in a sentence?

You can say, "The two products are very similar in design" or "Their opinions are very similar on this issue".

What’s the difference between "nearly identical" and "very similar"?

"Nearly identical" suggests an almost perfect match, while "very similar" indicates a strong resemblance but allows for some differences.