it was sufficiently close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was sufficiently close" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is near enough to a desired outcome or standard, but not exactly there. Example: "The final score of the game showed that the teams were evenly matched; it was sufficiently close to be considered a tie."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Ultimately a court, if there were such material, would have to weigh up whether it was sufficiently close to the trial to make a fair hearing impossible.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was sufficiently close to rubbish that Roberts doesn't want to discuss it even now.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Thereafter, NATO's role will supposedly be limited to training and support rather than combat.The appeal of the 2014 goal is that it is sufficiently close to reassure sceptical electorates at home, yet distant enough for the details of how it is achieved to remain sketchy.

The Economist

The continuity equation for the dust then contains a sink term that can be modelled in the SPH formulation by allowing the mass of each SPH dust particle to decrease when it is sufficiently close to the boundary.

Journal of Computational Physics

If a node determines that it is sufficiently close to the routing vector (e.g., less than a predefined distance threshold), it puts its own computed position in the packet and continues forwarding the packet; otherwise, it simply discards the packet.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Despite having relatively low elevation, it is sufficiently close to the coast to provide precipitation gradients.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

That is, f k is considered to be another child node of bottomNodes j * because it is (sufficiently close to) conditionally independent of the other children in the layer and thus should not be a child of those nodes.

BMC Systems Biology

In the CGR framework we propose an algorithm that does not achieve linear time complexity, as suffix tree does, but it is sufficiently close to warrant a careful analysis.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

It seemed like a fair trade, and Uzbek, I had been assured, was sufficiently close to my fluent Turkish to be picked up with ease.

Forbes

The forward PCR primer was sufficiently close to reach the breakpoint (Supplementary Figure 1a).

European Journal of Human Genetics

In four cases, the competition between alternative cyclizations was sufficiently close that products with two distinct scaffolds were isolated from the same reaction.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was sufficiently close", ensure the context clearly defines the criteria for 'sufficient'. What standard or requirement was nearly met?

Common error

Avoid using "it was sufficiently close" when the context suggests a significant difference or failure to meet requirements. It implies a near success, not a complete failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was sufficiently close" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an implicit or explicit verb, indicating the degree to which something approached a particular state or condition. Ludwig examples show this is about nearing a specific threshold or expectation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was sufficiently close" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something nearly met a required standard. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While the phrase is not particularly common, it appears in neutral registers like news and scientific writing. When using it, ensure that the context clarifies what 'sufficiently close' means. Alternatives such as "it was adequately near" or "it was acceptably close" offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was adequately near

Emphasizes that the proximity met a certain standard of adequacy.

it was acceptably close

Highlights that the proximity was within acceptable limits or tolerances.

it was reasonably near

Indicates a degree of closeness that is considered fair or justifiable.

it was near enough

A simpler way to express that the proximity was sufficient for a purpose.

it was fairly proximate

Uses a more formal term to denote nearness in space or time.

it was almost there

Suggests that the goal was very near to being achieved.

it was approximately close

Highlights that proximity is being estimated or rounded.

it was within range

Implies the proximity fell within a specific operational or measurable boundary.

it nearly sufficed

Focuses on the idea that something came close to being adequate or enough.

it was in the vicinity

Indicates a general area of closeness, rather than a precise point.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was sufficiently close" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "it was adequately near" or "it was acceptably close". These options maintain the meaning while elevating the language.

What does "sufficiently close" mean in a scientific context?

In science, "sufficiently close" typically means that a value or measurement is within an acceptable margin of error or tolerance for a particular application. The specific threshold for what counts as "sufficiently close" will vary depending on the field and the experiment.

Is "it was sufficiently close" the same as "it was close enough"?

While similar, "it was sufficiently close" implies that a specific requirement or threshold has almost been met. "It was close enough" is more general and may simply mean something was near, without necessarily implying adequacy.

How to decide when to use "it was sufficiently close" versus a more precise description?

Use "it was sufficiently close" when you want to convey a general sense of nearness or approximation without needing to specify exact values. If precision is important, provide specific measurements or data instead.