closest about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closest about" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when to use it, as it does not form a standard expression or idiom. Example: "I am not sure what you mean by closest about."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Instead it kept a safe distance - at closest, about 5,800,000 km (3,600,000 miles).

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Term sheets were signed about six weeks ago, and the deal closed about three weeks ago.

The New York Times

The inner-market auction begins at 5 a.m. each day, and the market closes about noon.

The New York Times - Travel

Apple shares, which have been doing well recently, closed about 0.7% lower on the day.

BBC

The stock closed about 15% above its offering price of $12 a share.

Forbes

Having closed about 2.8% lower on Tuesday, Europe's main indexes fell about 1.5% more on Wednesday.

Forbes

closed about 2 p.m. and is expected to reopen at noon Saturday, said reference librarian Allen Kesinger.

Los Angeles Times

In April the company announced it would close about 700 underperforming restaurants.

Vice

"Close, maybe about twice.

The Guardian

Close the about:config tab.

WikiHow

German shares closed about 2percentt higher.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "closest about" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "nearest to" or "approximately" depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is using incorrect prepositions after superlative adjectives. For "closest", the correct preposition is usually "to". Avoid combining "closest" with "about" unless rephrasing for clarity, such as "the closest thing to understanding is about...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closest about" functions as an attempt to describe proximity or estimation, but it is grammatically incorrect and unconventional. As Ludwig AI reports, this phrase isn't standard English. Although some instances can be found, they often indicate a misuse of prepositions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

35%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "closest about" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting that it's not a recognized expression. While some instances may appear in news media, alternative phrases such as "nearest to" or "approximately" are more appropriate and clearer in conveying proximity or estimation. It's crucial to use accurate prepositions and avoid non-standard expressions in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearest to

Emphasizes physical proximity with a clear prepositional structure.

most approximate to

Focuses on estimation rather than exactness, offering a similar level of imprecision.

in the vicinity of

Suggests a surrounding area instead of a single point, implying nearness.

approximately

Indicates an estimation without specifying what is close.

in close proximity to

Highlights the closeness and immediacy of the relationship or location.

virtually

Means nearly or almost, suggesting something is close to being true or complete.

in the neighborhood of

Similar to 'in the vicinity', but often used for numerical estimations.

around

Provides a general estimation without precision.

something close to

Highlights that the alternative phrase is a close approximation, not an exact match.

just about

Means almost or very nearly, indicating a high degree of approximation.

FAQs

What does "closest about" mean?

The phrase "closest about" is not standard English and does not have a clear, recognized meaning. It's better to use phrases like "nearest to" or "approximately" instead.

Is it grammatically correct to say "closest about"?

No, "closest about" is not grammatically correct. Use alternative phrases such as "closest to" or "in the vicinity of" to express proximity or estimation.

What are some alternatives to "closest about"?

Better alternatives include "nearest to", "most approximate to", or "approximately" depending on the context you intend.

How can I rephrase a sentence that includes "closest about"?

Instead of "closest about", try using "the thing that is "nearest to" the concept" or "it is "approximately" this value". Adjust based on the specific meaning you wish to convey.