closes to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closes to" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be a typographical error or a misinterpretation of "closest to," which is used to indicate proximity or similarity. Example: "The answer that is closest to the correct solution is option B."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Favorite household object: This Buddhist shrine that closes to look like an eggplant.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Bronx River Parkway closes to cars and trucks to allow for cycling, skating, walking and jogging.

The New York Times

After pollen shedding and reception, the lodicules shrink and the floret closes to protect the developing fruit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The more schools he closes to save money, the more parents grow discouraged and pull their children out.

The New York Times

The 40-person vessels glide into a water-filled caisson where the door closes to form a watertight seal.

The New York Times - Travel

If a fund in the S.& P. index closes to new investors, it may be replaced in the index.

The New York Times

Companies which ship their goods on the river are talking about lay-offs, if the Mississippi closes to navigation.

The Guardian

The heads of the 22 Royal Colleges are due to meet shortly before the ballot closes, to discuss their stance on possible strike action.

Independent

In humans the iris opens in the dark to a maximum diameter of 8 mm (0.31 inch) and closes to a minimum of 2 mm (0.08 inch).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Countless organic compounds are known in which a sequence of carbon atoms, rather than being connected in a chain, closes to form a ring.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

An ethanol-promoted proton transfer step (11) ensues, resulting in zwitterion 10, which then ring-closes to give aminal 6.

Accounts of Chemical Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing proximity, use "closest to" or "near" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, instead of saying "the value closes to 1", say "the value is closest to 1".

Common error

Avoid using "closes to" when you intend to say "closest to". "Closes to" implies a verb describing an action of nearing or shutting, while "closest to" describes proximity. For instance, instead of "the point closes to the edge", use "the point closest to the edge".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closes to" is generally used to express proximity or nearing a certain value or location. However, it's often grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI. The correct form is usually "closest to".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "closes to" appears frequently across various sources, including scientific and news media, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it is often a misinterpretation or typographical error, with the correct form typically being "closest to". When aiming to express proximity, it is advisable to use "closest to", "nearest to", or similar alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. While its frequent use might make it seem acceptable, adhering to correct grammar enhances the credibility and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approaches

Focuses on the act of getting nearer in distance or time.

nears

Highlights the action of getting closer to a specific point or state.

comes close to

Emphasizes a near miss or a high degree of similarity without direct contact.

is similar to

Stresses resemblance in quality or characteristics.

is almost

Indicates a state of being very nearly complete or achieved.

converges toward

Implies movement from different directions toward a common point.

terminates at

Highlights the endpoint or conclusion of a process or entity.

concludes at

Implies the reaching of a final decision or outcome.

finalizes at

Emphasizes making something complete or definitive.

is in proximity to

Indicates physical closeness without direct contact.

FAQs

What's the correct way to express proximity: "closes to" or "closest to"?

The correct phrase to indicate proximity is "closest to". "Closes to" is generally grammatically incorrect. For example, say "the nearest value is "closest to" the target".

What can I say instead of "closes to" when indicating something is near?

Instead of "closes to", use alternatives like ""closest to"", "nearest to", or "approaches depending on the context.

Is "closes to" ever grammatically correct?

In most contexts, "closes to" is not grammatically correct. It might be misused when "closest to" is intended, or in a rare context where "closes" is a verb describing an action toward something, though this is uncommon.

How do I avoid using "closes to" incorrectly in my writing?

Always double-check your sentence when you intend to convey proximity. If you mean "nearest" or "most similar", use ""closest to"" instead of "closes to". For example, it's better to write "the result is "closest to" the prediction".