closer than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closer than" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe the relationship between two objects, as in the sentence, "The office is now closer than ever before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Much closer than before.

The New Yorker

Pakistan is closer than ever.

The New York Times - Health

Success is closer than ever".

Independent

It's closer than you think.

The New Yorker

"We are a lot closer than Australia.

Independent

That is closer than many telecommunications satellites.

The New York Times - Science

Can't get much closer than that.

The New York Times

"Damn, that's closer than I thought".

The New York Times - Sports

The possibility seems closer than ever.

The New York Times

(She comes closer than most, though).

The New Yorker

The contest was closer than it looked.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "closer than", ensure the objects being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of 'This is closer than before', specify 'This location is closer than the previous one'.

Common error

A common mistake is using "closer than" without a clear reference point for comparison. Avoid saying just 'It's closer' and instead specify what it is closer than to provide clarity and context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closer than" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to indicate that one thing is less distant, either physically or metaphorically, than another. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is widely and correctly used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closer than" is a grammatically sound and very common comparative phrase used to indicate a reduced distance or degree between two things. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to establish a comparison, and it's suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news articles to academic papers. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and unambiguous. Related phrases like "nearer than" can be used as alternatives, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearer than

Focuses on physical proximity, similar to "closer than" but with a slightly different nuance.

in closer proximity to

More formal way to express nearness, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

less distant than

Emphasizes the reduced distance, often used in technical or descriptive contexts.

not as far as

Expresses a comparative distance in a negative way, highlighting the reduced separation.

in greater proximity than

A more emphatic and formal way of saying "closer than", suitable for academic writing.

more adjacent to

Highlights contiguity or immediate nearness, implying a side-by-side relationship.

within reach of

Indicates that something is easily accessible or attainable, either physically or metaphorically.

just around the corner from

An idiomatic expression that means something is very near or about to happen.

a stone's throw away from

Another idiomatic expression indicating a very short distance.

within spitting distance of

An informal idiom indicating very close proximity.

FAQs

How can I use "closer than" in a sentence?

Use "closer than" to compare the proximity, either physically or metaphorically, of two things. For example, "The new office is "closer than" the old one" or "The deadline is "closer than" we anticipated".

What phrases can I use instead of "closer than"?

You can use phrases like "nearer than", "less distant than", or "in closer proximity to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "more close than" instead of "closer than"?

While "close" can be modified by "more", it's less common and generally less preferred than "closer". "Closer than" is the standard comparative form of "close".

What's the difference between "closer than" and "nearest to"?

"Closer than" compares two things, indicating one is less distant. "Nearest to" identifies the single closest item among multiple options. For example, 'A is closer than B', but 'C is nearest to D'.