is close relative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is close relative" is not correct as it is missing an article.
It should be "is a close relative." You can use it when discussing familial relationships or similarities between two entities. Example: "In the animal kingdom, the dolphin is a close relative of the whale."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If peak centers are close relative to bandwidth, a local maximum must be between their smallest and largest smallest locations.

BMC Genomics

And transparency and liquidity are close relatives.

The Economist

Generally, Batesian mimics are close relatives.

The Guardian

Furthermore, there were close relatives in the US.

The Guardian

They are close relatives of sea urchins and heart urchins.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ryan and Jethá argue that while yes, gibbons and chimpanzees are close relatives, our closest relatives are in fact bonobos.

The Guardian

That the three sorts of Hawaiian goose were close relatives was the least of them.

The Economist

Some of them are close relatives of the president; Mr. Erdimi is Mr. Déby's nephew.

The New York Times

Because most orchids have very thin seed coats, the Asparagales seemed unlikely to be close relatives.

The New York Times - Science

The directors also cannot be close relatives of any top managers.

The New York Times

They are considered to be close relatives of arthropods (e.g., insects, crustaceans).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the article "a" is used before "close relative" to make the phrase grammatically correct: "is a close relative".

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" before "close relative". The correct usage is "is a close relative", not "is close relative".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to denote a relationship of kinship or similarity. However, it requires the addition of the article "a" to be grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "is a close relative". As Ludwig AI states, without the article, the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is close relative" is grammatically incorrect as it misses the article "a". The correct form is "is a close relative". As Ludwig AI points out, without this article, the phrase violates basic grammatical rules. While there are no direct examples of the incorrect phrase in Ludwig, several alternatives like "is a near relative" or "is closely related" can effectively convey a similar meaning. Remember to include the article or rephrase for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is a near relative

Replaces "close" with "near", maintaining the meaning of familial proximity.

is closely related

Changes the structure to an adverbial phrase emphasizing the degree of relatedness.

is a close relation

Substitutes "relative" with "relation", offering a synonymous term.

is intimately connected

Shifts the focus to a deep connection or association, implying a strong relationship.

is strongly affiliated

Highlights a strong connection or association, particularly in organizational contexts.

is directly linked

Emphasizes a direct connection or association between two entities.

is akin to

Uses a more formal term to indicate similarity or relatedness.

shares common ancestry

Focuses on the shared lineage or origin between two entities.

is of similar stock

Indicates that two entities come from the same family or lineage.

bears a resemblance to

Highlights the similarities or comparable aspects between two entities.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone is related?

The correct phrasing is "is a close relative". You can also say they are "closely related".

What can I say instead of "is a close relative"?

You can use alternatives like "is closely related", "is a near relative", or "is a close relation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is close relative" or "is a close relative"?

"Is a close relative" is the grammatically correct option because it includes the necessary article "a".

How to use "is a close relative" in a sentence?

For example, "In the animal kingdom, the dolphin "is a close relative" of the whale".