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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
far close
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "far close" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be a contradiction, as "far" and "close" have opposing meanings. Example: "The two cities are far close to each other, making travel easy." (This example is incorrect due to the phrase itself.)
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Formal & Business
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
13 human-written examples
So far, close to 20 farmers and other Greenmarket vendors have signed up, said Michael Hurwitz, the Greenmarket director.
News & Media
So far, close to a dozen people have looked at the ship, "but nobody has stepped up to the plate," Mr. Derecktor said.
News & Media
The executives have so far kept those names private, and the only similar shows so far close to being scheduled are both on MTV.
News & Media
So far, close to twenty thousand have been sold through College Humor.com for a profit of about ten dollars apiece. "We figured that other people would copy them, so we took a patent out on it," Josh said.
News & Media
Stanford PhD student Andrej Karpathy has used Twitter's API to compile a partial list of the so far close to 4,000 winners of Google's Glass Explorers first adopter competition who applied to buy the high tech specs via Twitter.
News & Media
The other is two alternating shots of a hallway: close, far; close, far; close, far; close, far, repeat.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
44 human-written examples
However, if one probes social media and measures the temperature of the kids milling about, the guitar-playing teens and the poetry-loving intellectuals are churning out gems 10 to the dozen; finding beauty in ideas, conversation and football itself; relishing still images of the games so far, close-ups of the players, analysing every detail of the tournament instant by instant.
News & Media
Since it went into orbit, Chandra has provided a stream of spectacular X-ray images of heavenly bodies, near and far: close-ups of comets, exploding stars, gases jetting from around black holes and awesome quasars about 10 billion light-years from Earth.
News & Media
But there is a far closer comparison.
News & Media
Certainly he got far closer than Lamouchi.
News & Media
That brings the prospect of a second referendum far closer.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using "far close" in formal writing. Instead, choose a phrase that accurately reflects the intended meaning of proximity or distance.
Common error
Do not combine contradictory terms like "far" and "close". This creates confusion and undermines the clarity of your writing. Determine whether you want to emphasize distance or proximity and select your words accordingly.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "far close" functions as an incorrect attempt to describe spatial relation. It contradicts itself by using antonyms, resulting in a grammatically and semantically flawed expression. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is incorrect.
Frequent in
News & Media
61%
Science
23%
Formal & Business
15%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "far close" is grammatically incorrect and semantically contradictory. While it appears in various sources, including news, science, and formal business contexts, its usage is not recommended due to its inherent lack of logical sense. Ludwig AI confirms its incorrectness. Instead, writers should opt for more precise alternatives like "very near", "quite distant", or "relatively close" depending on the intended meaning. Understanding the contradictory nature of "far close" is essential for clear and effective communication.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
nearby
Simple and direct way of saying something is not far.
in close proximity
Formal way of stating nearness; emphasizes being in the immediate vicinity.
not far away
Negates the idea of great distance, implying reasonable proximity.
relatively close
Suggests a comparison to other distances, indicating it's closer than some alternatives.
within a short distance
Indicates a limited amount of space separates two points.
very near
Emphasizes proximity and minimal distance.
quite distant
Highlights considerable separation or remoteness.
within reach
Focuses on accessibility and the ability to get to the location.
just around the corner
Idiomatic expression indicating very close proximity and ease of access.
a stone's throw away
Idiomatic expression suggesting a very short distance.
FAQs
Is "far close" grammatically correct?
No, "far close" is not grammatically correct. The terms "far" and "close" are antonyms, and combining them creates a contradictory and nonsensical phrase.
What can I say instead of "far close"?
Depending on the intended meaning, you can use alternatives like "very near", "quite distant", or "relatively close".
When is it appropriate to use the phrase "far close"?
It is generally not appropriate to use the phrase "far close" in formal or informal writing, as it is semantically contradictory. Consider more precise and logical alternatives.
What's the difference between "far close" and "in close proximity"?
"Far close" is an incorrect and contradictory phrase. "In close proximity" is a grammatically correct phrase that means nearby or not far away. They are not interchangeable.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested