closely the same as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'closely the same as' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe similarities between two things. For example, "The two paintings are closely the same as each other in terms of color and composition."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The power of the post-decapitation EEG in the anesthetized group is thus closely the same as in the awake group.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They know a lot of science and a lot about your field, but they're almost always working in a field that is closely related to--but not precisely the same as--yours.

Science Magazine

Celebrity, the public side of "individuality," is ostensibly human but really a part of fashion, and, like other aspects of fashion, it operates in a dimension that runs parallel to life and often apes it very closely but is not the same as life itself.

The New Yorker

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

Polymer

(Note on terminology: "shipments" is Gartner's classification for how many devices are sent retailers, carriers and others for sale to end users. You can think of them as closely correlated (but not exactly the same as) sales.

TechCrunch

Take your pick from fennel seeds, the fronds of herb fennel and the fat bulb of Florence fennel, which is closely related to, but not exactly the same, as the plant from which we get the seeds and leaves.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He has an original, compelling voice as well as ideas that draw you in and make you want to see where he will take them; yet if you listen closely, his basic materials are essentially the same as those that his predecessors have used, only juxtaposed in different, often daring ways.

The New York Times - Arts

I have read de-cluttering articles that suggest taking photos of the well-loved and well-worn items, but it's just not the same as looking closely at something and immediately knowing when you wore it, whom you were with, and how it made you feel.

Huffington Post

First, by using the taxonomic profile, a set of reference genomes that belong to species that are the same as or are closely related to those in the taxonomy profile are collected from the public genome database.

DNA Research

The creationist "kind" is not the same as the taxonomical species but corresponds often closely to biological families (Numbers [2011]).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Closely similar electric rays found off Peru, Chile, and Japan may be the same as this species.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing items, use "closely the same as" to emphasize a high degree of similarity while acknowledging slight differences.

Common error

Avoid using "closely the same as" when the items being compared have significant differences. Reserve it for cases where the variations are minimal and inconsequential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely the same as" functions as a comparative descriptor, used to indicate that two or more items share a high degree of similarity. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "closely the same as" is a useful comparative descriptor that highlights a high degree of similarity between two or more items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. While alternatives like "nearly identical to" or "virtually the same as" exist, "closely the same as" strikes a balance between acknowledging slight differences and emphasizing overall resemblance. From scientific research to news reporting, this phrase serves to draw parallels and emphasize common attributes while avoiding overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical to

Focuses on the near-perfect likeness between two things, emphasizing minimal differences.

virtually the same as

Highlights that the differences are so small they are practically negligible.

almost equivalent to

Emphasizes the functional similarity or interchangeability of the items being compared.

akin to

Suggests a resemblance or similarity, but might imply a less precise match.

much like

Indicates a strong similarity but leaves room for some differences.

comparable to

Highlights that the items can be fairly compared due to their shared attributes.

similar to

A general term indicating resemblance without specifying the degree.

resembling

Focuses on the visual or superficial similarities.

analogous to

Implies a similarity in function or structure, often used in more technical contexts.

on par with

Indicates a level of equality or equivalence in terms of quality or performance.

FAQs

How can I use "closely the same as" in a sentence?

Use "closely the same as" to highlight that two or more things are very similar but not completely identical. For instance, "The new model is "closely the same as" the previous one, with only minor improvements".

What are some alternatives to "closely the same as"?

Alternatives include "nearly identical to", "virtually the same as", or "almost equivalent to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "very closely the same as"?

While not strictly incorrect, adding "very" might be seen as slightly redundant. The word "closely" already implies a high degree of similarity, so ""closely the same as"" is typically sufficient.

What's the difference between "closely the same as" and "exactly the same as"?

"Exactly the same as" means there are no differences at all, while ""closely the same as"" implies a high degree of similarity with only minor or negligible differences.