further closer

USAGE SUMMARY

"further closer" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
"Further" and "closer" are opposites and cannot be used together in a phrase. It is also unclear what you are trying to express with this phrase. A correct and usable phrase using "further" and "closer" might be "I moved closer to the finish line, but I still had further to go." In this sentence, "further" means a greater distance or extent and "closer" means a shorter distance or proximity.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Further closer microbiological analyses, including genetic fingerprinting and quantitative PCR (qPCR), have been carried out at the German Research Centre for Geosciences and are described by Lienen et al. [11].

Energy, Sustainability and Society

However, both DE and DM manifest this difference more clearly with values, thus the closest inactive is measured further closer relative to the first hit: the gap between the closest inactive and the first active is 0.7482 and 0.0575 for DE and DM, respectively.

Journal of Cheminformatics

This brings the nanosphere further closer to the resin and at a certain critical distance the overall energy of the system reaches minimum, causing the two surfaces to jump into spontaneous contact.

Plosone

The usefulness of the FBAT-PC approach in the context of dissecting impulsivity in ADHD has been demonstrated, and warrants further, closer study using measures of impulsivity defined by neuropsychological task performance.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Since then, the shares have declined further, closing on Friday at $3.06.

The New York Times

The Dundee keeper made further close-range saves from Griffiths and Johansen as Celtic swarmed around the opposition penalty area.

The Guardian - Sport

Going further Closing the loopholes appears to be the first step in Washington's effort to curb speculation.

The New York Times

But if banks are readily adding capacity, why aren't mortgage rates falling further, closing the spread between bond yields?

The New York Times

Dilma Rousseff, who became Brazil's first female president this year, may yet further close those gender gaps.

The New York Times

Clemens touched his cap and smirked at Estes and Umpire Wally Bell immediately stopped play and warned both teams that any further close pitches would automatically mean ejections.

The New York Times - Sports

The Senate Democrats said the rules would muzzle them and further close deliberations to public scrutiny, and they accused the Republicans of exacting retribution for their heightened activism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "further closer" in your writing. It combines contradictory terms, making your writing unclear and potentially confusing for your audience. Instead, choose either "further" to indicate progression or "closer" to indicate proximity, depending on your intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "further closer" when intending to convey the idea of progressing towards a goal or achieving greater proximity. To avoid this, clarify your intent: use "further" to indicate advancement or "closer" to denote reduced distance. For example, instead of saying "We need to further closer examine the data", say "We need to examine the data more closely" or "We need to further analyze the data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "further closer" attempts to function as an adverbial modifier, aiming to describe the manner in which something is approached or examined. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically incorrect due to the contradictory nature of its components.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "further closer" is grammatically incorrect due to the contradictory nature of its constituent words. Ludwig AI indicates that it combines the conflicting ideas of increasing distance ("further") and decreasing distance ("closer"). While some examples exist across science and news media, these are infrequent and do not legitimize the phrase's usage. For clarity and grammatical correctness, it is best to avoid using "further closer" in your writing. Opt for alternatives like "much closer", "more detailed", or rephrase your sentence to accurately reflect your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much closer

Emphasizes a significant reduction in distance, focusing solely on proximity without the contradictory element of "further".

significantly closer

Highlights a notable decrease in separation, maintaining a focus on nearness.

considerably closer

Indicates a marked reduction in distance; concentrates on the closing of the gap.

noticeably closer

Highlights that the proximity is now easily observed, accentuating the reduced separation.

draw nearer

Replaces the static descriptor with an active verb, focusing on the act of approaching.

move closer

Emphasizes the action of decreasing distance, focusing on the progression of approach.

approach more closely

Highlights that the approach is measured in a more detailed and attentive way.

closer proximity

Focuses on the state of being near, rather than combining it with the idea of furthering an action.

more in depth

Shifts the focus from physical distance to depth of analysis or understanding, eliminating any direct reference to spatial relations.

more detailed

Emphasizes the level of detail or thoroughness, diverging from the concept of physical distance.

FAQs

Why is "further closer" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "further closer" combines contradictory terms. "Further" implies a greater distance or extent, while "closer" implies a shorter distance or proximity. Using them together creates a phrase that doesn't make logical sense.

What can I say instead of "further closer" to indicate physical proximity?

To indicate physical proximity, use alternatives like "much closer", "significantly closer", or "considerably closer". These options accurately convey the idea of reduced distance.

How can I rephrase "further closer" to express a more detailed analysis?

If you intend to express a more detailed analysis, consider using alternatives like "more in depth" or "more detailed". These options shift the focus from physical distance to the depth of understanding.

Is there any context where "further closer" might be acceptable?

While "further closer" is generally considered incorrect, it might appear in creative writing or very specific technical contexts where the intention is to deliberately create a contradictory or unusual effect. However, in most standard writing, it should be avoided.