in the close future

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the close future" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to an unspecified time in the near future. For example, "I am planning to take a vacation in the close future."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Promising solutions that are likely to be implemented in the close future are also considered.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Additionally, the increasing availability of RFID commercial portable readers for active RFID tags could make this approach even more accessible for pedestrian applications in the close future.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

"In the close future I believe it will be important for hiring decisions to have a balanced CV that shows not only that your research has important impact but also that it is robust.

Science Magazine

It is clear that the problem of water resources pollution is one of the most important challenges to be encountered in the close future, particularly in arid and semiarid areas, such as Iran (Celik et al. 1996; Kolpin et al. 1998; Dixon 2005; Ouyang et al. 2013).

Applied Water Science

While the Equality Bill was at first expected to both abolish the preference for male heirs as well as the barring of Catholics from the throne at some point in 2008, this was later changed because of the complexity of agreeing simultaneous legislation in 16 states, and it seemed that there were no concrete plans to change the order of succession in the close future.

Wikipedia

Even so, quadratic algorithms will not be efficient enough when dealing with very large datasets and more efficient data compression methods (such as those used to decrease redundancy in databases) will probably need to be used in the close future (Blackshields et al., 2008).

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

If enough botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological work is dedicated to these rare tropical genera of flowering plants, a couple of new drugs for the treatment of tumors, fungal, bacterial and even viral infections can be developed in the relatively close future.

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

The training center would use 40 acres of rolling meadows and forest to combine operations from seven other bases around Connecticut that have closed or will close in the near future.

The New York Times

A quarter of sixth-form colleges have already been declared "at financial risk"; if the cuts continue, some will be forced to close in the near future.

The Guardian

Both initially launched in the US only – Beats Music before Apple agreed to buy its parent company for $3bn in May, with that deal expected to close in the near future.

The Guardian - Tech

But most of the nuclear plants, and around half of the coal plants, are due to close in the near future.The nuclear stations are simply too ancient to carry on: most are over a quarter of a century old.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "in the close future" is acceptable, consider using the more common phrase "in the near future" for better clarity and wider acceptance.

Common error

Avoid assuming "close" and "near" are always interchangeable. While similar, "near" is the conventional choice when referring to time. Use "in the near future" unless you have a specific reason to emphasize the immediacy suggested by "close".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the close future" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something is expected to occur. As noted by Ludwig AI, it signifies a time that is not distant.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the close future" is a grammatically sound way to indicate that something is expected to occur soon. While perfectly acceptable, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is less common than the synonymous phrase "in the near future". Predominantly found in scientific, news, and business contexts, this phrase conveys a sense of anticipation and expectation. While understandable, favoring more common alternatives may enhance clarity and acceptance in broader audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In the immediate future

Replaces 'close' with 'immediate', emphasizing a shorter timeframe.

In the near future

A more common and direct synonym, focusing on the proximity of the time frame.

In the coming days

Specifies a very short period of time, often days or weeks.

In the short term

Focuses on a limited time horizon, as opposed to long-term.

In the foreseeable future

Implies that the future is predictable to a certain extent.

In due course

Suggests an event will happen when the time is right, without specifying when.

In the offing

Means something is likely to happen soon.

Just around the corner

Suggests something is very close to happening.

In the wings

Implies something is ready and waiting to happen or be revealed.

On the horizon

Suggests something is coming but might not be immediate.

FAQs

What does "in the close future" mean?

The phrase "in the close future" refers to a period of time that is expected to occur relatively soon. It's similar to saying "in the near future".

Is "in the close future" grammatically correct?

Yes, "in the close future" is grammatically correct, although it is less commonly used than alternatives like "in the near future".

What are some alternatives to "in the close future"?

You can use alternatives like "in the near future", "in the immediate future", or "shortly" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "in the close future" in a sentence?

You can use "in the close future" to indicate something that is likely to happen soon. For example, "We expect to release the updated software in the close future".