is close to nil

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is close to nil" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is not significant in amount or degree. For example: "The chance of success in this venture is close to nil."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The marginal cost of distributing the story more widely is close to nil, but the marginal benefit can be considerable.

The Economist

In an interview on Jan . 9with PBS's "Newshour," Mr. Duelfer said that the prospect "of finding chemical weapons, biological weapons is close to nil at this point," and that the search by the United States had been more extensive than what the United Nations had been able to accomplish during the period that it was carrying out inspections in Iraq.

The New York Times

And of course, the chances of my favourite creator being registered with Flattr or any other single payment service is close to nil.

TechCrunch

But the likelihood of a meaningful deal is close to nil.

Huffington Post

Most patients harbour distant metastasis at the time of presentation, and therefore not eligible for resection; the 5-year survival rate for such patients is close to nil.

British Journal of Cancer

In contrast, the energetic contribution for the release of structural water is close to nil due to improved packing around hydrophobic groups that eliminates void spaces.

Accounts of Chemical Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The chances of success are close to nil.

The New Yorker

The collective combat experience of these men was close to nil; their diplomatic experience was smaller.

The New Yorker

The clinical value of this genomic information would seem to be close to nil.

The New York Times - Science

The chances of him ever coaching again at the college level are close to nil.

The New York Times

If the inspectors cannot examine trees on private property, the chances of success are close to nil, entomologists say.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For emphasis, consider pairing "is close to nil" with adverbs like 'almost', 'virtually', or 'practically' to amplify the sense of near-zero quantity or possibility.

Common error

Avoid using "is close to nil" when a more precise term is available. While it conveys a sense of near-zero, using specific numbers or measurements provides greater clarity and strengthens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is close to nil" functions as a qualifier, specifically indicating that something has a minimal or negligible value, likelihood, or impact. It serves to diminish the significance of the subject it modifies. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and understandability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is close to nil" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is almost nonexistent or has a negligible value. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, although more precise language might sometimes be preferred for enhanced clarity. Its neutral tone makes it applicable in both formal and informal settings, with a fairly balanced distribution across news, media, and scientific domains. While not an exceedingly common phrase, it effectively communicates the intended meaning of near-zero presence or probability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is virtually nonexistent

Emphasizes the almost complete absence of something.

is practically zero

Highlights the quantitative aspect, suggesting a value approaching zero.

is almost nothing

Focuses on the insignificance in terms of amount or degree.

is next to nothing

Highlights the near absence of something, making it insignificant.

is barely perceptible

Suggests that something is so small that it's hard to detect.

is vanishingly small

Implies a rapid decrease towards zero.

is hardly any

Indicates a minimal quantity or degree.

is substantially reduced

Suggests that something was decreased in amount.

is approaching oblivion

Implies something that is fading and is about to disappear completely.

is nearing completion

Suggests the almost final amount in terms of progress.

FAQs

How can I use "is close to nil" in a sentence?

Use "is close to nil" to describe something that is nearly nonexistent or has a very small chance of happening. For example, "The chances of rain today "is close to nil"" means there is almost no chance of rain.

What are some alternatives to "is close to nil"?

You can use alternatives like "is virtually nonexistent", "is practically zero", or "is almost nothing" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "is close to nil" or "is close to zero"?

Both "is close to nil" and "is close to zero" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. However, "is close to zero" might be more suitable in contexts where a numerical value is implied, while "is close to nil" is generally used to describe near absence of something.

What does "is close to nil" imply about the subject?

When something "is close to nil", it means that its quantity, effect, or possibility is so small as to be almost nonexistent. It suggests a very low level or probability.