in close fight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in close fight" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe a situation where two parties are engaged in a competitive or combative scenario, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "The two teams were in close fight for the championship title, with neither willing to back down."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Floyd Mayweather Jr. prevails in close fight with Marcos Maidana.

Los Angeles Times

Floyd Mayweather Jr. prevails in close fight with Marcos Maidana.  .

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Local-born Crolla appeared to have clinched victory in a close fight in which Pérez was twice docked points for frequent low blows – but the judges were split, with one ruling for each fighter and the third calling it a draw.

The Guardian - Sport

Zombies are deadlier when fought in close combat, but each zombie killed in close combat extends the length of the combat, allowing the player to kill more zombies and score more points.

WikiHow

Early tallies indicate that the Hindu nationalist BJP is leading in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh as well as in Delhi, while it is in a close fight with Congress in the central Indian state of Chhatisgarh.

BBC

During the game, the player controls both Nero and Dante as they fight enemies in close combat using firearms, swords, and other weapons.

Wikipedia

Mr. Blumenthal, by contrast, began the contest with the highest popularity and job-approval ratings of any politician in the state -- he had not been in a close fight since his first election as attorney general, in 1990.

The New York Times

There are growing signs that Mr Corbyn is the front-runner in the race, with Ms Cooper and Andy Burnham locked in a close fight to get into the final round with him under the preferential voting system and Liz Kendall trailing in fourth place.

Independent

Writing on Twitter, Romney - the Republican challenger engaged in a close fight with Democrat Barack Obama for the White House in next month's election - said: "The US is blessed with courageous friends.

The Guardian

The resurgence of her party, One Nation, would also reflect the uneven progress of race relations in Australia, coming in the same election that delivered the lower house's first Indigenous woman in Linda Burney, and possibly parliament's first Muslim woman, Anne Aly, still in a close fight for the West Australian seat of Cowan on Saturday night.

The Guardian

Williams was involved in a close fight with Russia's Leonov Alexandre when he outpointed Alexandre, 7-1, in the third round.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where two sides are closely matched, consider using more common and grammatically sound alternatives such as "in a close contest" or "in a tight battle".

Common error

The preposition "in" typically precedes a noun phrase. While "fight" is a noun, the adjective "close" modifies it. A more standard construction would use "a" before "close fight" to create a proper noun phrase: "in a close fight". Consider more idiomatic alternatives to avoid this issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in close fight" functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to describe a state of competition or conflict. However, it deviates from standard English grammar, as highlighted by Ludwig. Properly, it requires the article "a" to become "in a close fight."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in close fight" aims to describe a situation of tight competition or conflict. However, as Ludwig indicates, it's grammatically questionable and considered non-standard English. Although it appears in some news and media sources, it's advisable to opt for clearer, more grammatically correct alternatives like "in a close fight", "in a tight battle", or "in a close contest". These options not only adhere to standard English conventions but also provide greater clarity and precision in conveying the intended meaning. Ultimately, while "in close fight" might be understood, using established alternatives enhances the quality and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a tight battle

Focuses on the intensity and competitiveness of the situation, using "battle" instead of "fight".

in a hard-fought battle

Highlights the effort and determination involved in the competition or fight.

in a close contest

Emphasizes the competitive aspect, suitable for scenarios beyond physical fights, such as elections or games.

in a closely contested match

Emphasizes that the match was characterized by the small margin between competitors

locked in a tight race

Highlights the neck-and-neck nature of a competition, particularly in races or similar events.

in fierce competition

Focuses on the high level of intensity and rivalry between competitors.

neck and neck

A more concise idiom describing a very close competition where participants are almost equally positioned.

in a narrow victory

Emphasizes that despite the struggle a victory was achieved by a very small margin.

in a dead heat

Describes a situation where competitors finish exactly together or are very nearly tied.

in a close game

Specifically relates to sporting events where the score difference is minimal.

FAQs

What phrases can I use instead of "in close fight"?

Consider using alternatives like "in a tight battle", "in a close contest", or "neck and neck" to better express a close or competitive situation.

Is "in close fight" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "in close fight" is not considered standard English. It's better to use phrases like "in a close fight" or other alternatives such as "in a hard-fought battle".

What's the difference between "in close fight" and "in a close fight"?

"In a close fight" is grammatically correct because it includes the article "a", which is necessary before the noun phrase "close fight". The phrase "in close fight", without the article, is not standard. However, alternative options include "in a tight race" or "fierce competition".

How can I use the phrase "in a close fight" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "in a close fight" to describe any situation, for instance, "The election resulted "in a narrow victory"". In a physical contest, the fighters were "neck and neck".