match closely

USAGE SUMMARY

"match closely" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe how two things are very similar or closely related to each other. Example: The suspect's description matched closely with the eyewitness testimony.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In addition, Mal3143 residues close to the microtubule surface match closely to conserved residues on the surface of its CH domain.

Cell

The match closely mirrored their two regular-season games, each decided in the final moments.

The New York Times - Sports

Because you are blending several images, it's important that they match closely.

The New York Times

On average, about one in 20,000 unrelated people match closely enough for a bone-marrow donation.

The New York Times - Tech

The research provides a rare insight into the social behaviour of primitive "hominins" that appears to match closely that seen in chimpanzees and bonobos today.

The Guardian

This Epano Englianos palace, together with dependent despoiled tombs, appears to match closely the dignity and position of the royal seat as described by Homer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Compatibilized blends of PET and MXD6 have good transparency because their refractive indices match closely.

Polymer

Their thermal expansivity was measured and found to match closely the analytical model's prediction.

Acta Materialia

These theoretical natural frequencies and mode shapes match closely with experimental and finite element results.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Numerically predicted results match closely with the data reported in the literature.

Solar Energy

These match closely the figures of todays spectrometers at medium flux sources.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientifically or technically, "match closely" is effective for describing how well experimental results align with theoretical predictions.

Common error

Avoid using "match closely" when the resemblance is only superficial or partial; consider using "resemble somewhat" or "have some similarities" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "match closely" functions as a verb phrase, where "match" acts as the main verb and "closely" modifies it as an adverb. According to Ludwig AI, this is grammatically correct and usable in written English, indicating a high degree of similarity or correspondence. Examples include "results measured with this new method and those calculated with an improved Rayleigh method match closely."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

73%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "match closely" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes a high degree of similarity or correspondence between two or more things. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for use in various contexts, ranging from formal scientific reports to news articles. Analysis of usage patterns reveals that the phrase is most commonly found in scientific contexts, followed by news media and encyclopedias. To express similar ideas, alternatives such as "resemble closely", "correspond closely", and "align closely" can be used. When employing "match closely", it's essential to ensure that the degree of similarity is indeed significant to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resemble closely

Replaces "match" with "resemble", emphasizing similarity in appearance or nature.

correspond closely

Substitutes "match" with "correspond", highlighting a close relationship or analogy.

align closely

Replaces "match" with "align", suggesting a close agreement or arrangement.

compare closely

Focuses on the act of comparing and finding a high degree of similarity.

mirror closely

Uses "mirror" instead of "match", indicating a very high degree of similarity, like a reflection.

approximate closely

Emphasizes that something is nearly, but not exactly, the same.

agree closely

Indicates a high level of agreement or concordance.

coincide closely

Highlights that two things happen or exist at the same time or place and are very similar.

track closely

Implies that one thing follows or imitates another with a high degree of accuracy.

fit closely

Focuses on how well one thing conforms to another, suggesting a snug or precise relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "match closely" in a sentence?

You can use "match closely" to describe a high degree of similarity between two or more things. For instance, "The predicted results "match closely" with the experimental data."

What are some alternatives to using "match closely"?

Alternatives include phrases like "resemble closely", "correspond closely", or "align closely", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "match closely" and "match exactly"?

Yes, "match closely" implies a high degree of similarity but allows for minor differences, whereas "match exactly" suggests complete identity. Using "match exactly" means there are no differences whatsoever.

When is it appropriate to use "match closely" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, "match closely" is suitable when comparing experimental results with theoretical models, indicating that the observed data aligns well with the predicted outcomes, although there might be some minor deviations.