closing the distance

USAGE SUMMARY

"closing the distance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to making something distant become closer. For example, "We are slowly closing the distance between our two countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

How fast was the officer closing the distance on Bland before she changed lanes?

The New York Times

The therapist tries, gently, to lead the man back into the narrative, gradually closing the distance.

The New Yorker

Butlin tried closing the distance down but was punished almost at will by the big rookie.

Independent

On Sunday, Mr. Trump named Mr. Bannon as his chief White House strategist and senior counselor, further closing the distance between Breitbart's newsroom and the president-elect.

The New York Times

("This is the first time Brendan's ever fought somebody that big," Rogan told viewers. "You can tell he's having a hard time closing the distance").

The New Yorker

I'm very good at inviting my opponent to finish where I want them to and shortening the time to very little by closing the distance really tight.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

We closed the distance.

The New York Times - Sports

He has closed the distance, I mean, not me.

The New Yorker

Watching him close the distance is the novel's greatest pleasure.

The New York Times - Books

Björk often uses the second person to close the distance between herself and others.

The New Yorker

Coming out of the second turn, he closed the distance to about 300 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closing the distance" to describe actions that reduce any kind of separation, whether physical, conceptual, or emotional.

Common error

Avoid using "closing the distance" when referring to ending a project or finishing a task. The phrase is best suited for scenarios involving reducing separation, not completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closing the distance" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act of reducing separation or bridging a gap, whether physically or metaphorically. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closing the distance" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase across diverse contexts. As highlighted by Ludwig, it functions as a gerund phrase to describe the act of diminishing separation, whether physical, emotional, or conceptual. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki and Science sources, this phrase maintains a neutral register and is suitable for both formal and informal communication. While alternatives like "reducing the gap" and "bridging the divide" exist, "closing the distance" uniquely captures the active process of reducing separation, making it a versatile and effective choice in many writing scenarios. According to Ludwig's AI, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English, further solidifying its reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reducing the gap

Emphasizes lessening a disparity or space.

bridging the divide

Suggests connecting two disparate entities or ideas.

narrowing the divide

Focuses on making a gap smaller.

approaching the goal

Highlights progress towards a specific objective.

shortening the space

Implies a decrease in physical or metaphorical distance.

drawing nearer

Suggests moving closer gradually.

coming closer

Similar to "drawing nearer" but more direct.

lessening the separation

Focuses on the reduction of being apart.

getting closer

Indicates advancement toward proximity.

reaching parity

Emphasizes achieving equality or balance.

FAQs

How can I use "closing the distance" in a sentence?

You can use "closing the distance" to describe efforts to reduce physical separation, like "The runner was closing the distance on the leader", or to describe bridging gaps in understanding, like "The workshop aimed at closing the distance between theory and practice".

What are some alternatives to "closing the distance"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "reducing the gap", "bridging the divide", or "narrowing the divide".

Is it correct to say "closer the distance" instead of "closing the distance"?

While "closer the distance" might be understood, it's not grammatically standard. "Closing the distance" is the more conventional and grammatically sound choice.

When should I use "closing the distance" versus "close the distance"?

"Closing the distance" is a gerund phrase, often used as a noun (e.g., "Closing the distance is key"). "Close the distance" is an imperative or infinitive verb phrase, used to command or describe an action (e.g., "Close the distance between you and your goals").