most closely

USAGE SUMMARY

'most closely' is not correct in written English, as it is not a grammatically correct sentence construction.
To make a correct sentence, you can use 'most closely related' or 'most closely resembles' instead. For example: "The pattern of the fabric most closely resembles the design on the wall."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The company most closely resembles Amazon.com.

The New York Times

Batch is being watched most closely.

The New York Times - Sports

What stadium most closely resembles the Marlins'?

The New York Times - Sports

The music "Juha" resembles most closely is that of Janacek.

The New York Times - Arts

Mentions the artists most closely associated with it.

The New Yorker

Of current dance styles, rave most closely resembles break dancing.

The New York Times - Arts

In fact, it most closely resembled unpaid maintenance work.

The New York Times

They may be watching monetary policy most closely.

The Guardian - Business

The one that most closely approaches the ideal is methane.

The New Yorker

So what about those who worked most closely with him?

The Guardian

Mr. Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, is the most closely watched.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, always use "most closely related" or "most closely resembles" instead of just "most closely".

Common error

Avoid using "most closely" without specifying what is being closely compared or related to what. Without this context, the phrase is grammatically incomplete and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most closely" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically requiring a verb like 'resembles', 'related', or 'approximates' to complete its meaning. As Ludwig AI explains, it needs to be followed by additional words to form a grammatically correct sentence. Examples include "most closely resembles" and "most closely related to".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "most closely" is frequently used, it is often grammatically incomplete and requires a verb such as 'resembles' or 'related' for correctness. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase needs additional words to be grammatically correct. Its purpose is to indicate a high degree of similarity or connection. Although found across diverse sources, including news, science, and encyclopedias, formal writing demands the inclusion of a completing verb to avoid grammatical errors. Remember to specify what exactly is being compared for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strongly resembles

Emphasizes visual or characteristic similarities.

very closely

Indicates a high degree of proximity or connection.

bears the greatest resemblance

A more formal way of stating a strong likeness.

most nearly

Highlights the approximation or closeness to a certain state or condition.

highly related

Underscores a strong degree of correlation or association.

most intimately

Focuses on the depth and personal nature of the relationship.

directly associated

Highlights a straightforward and explicit connection.

most exactly

Emphasizes precision and accuracy in the comparison.

intimately connected

Stresses a profound connection or link between elements.

is virtually identical

Conveys near-perfect similarity or interchangeability.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "most closely" in a sentence?

To use it correctly, follow "most closely" with a verb like 'resembles' or 'related to'. For example, 'This "most closely resembles" that' or 'This is "most closely related to" that'.

What are some alternatives to using "most closely"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "most nearly", "most intimately", or "strongly resembles".

Which is correct, "most closely" or "most closely related"?

"Most closely related" is grammatically correct. "Most closely" by itself is an incomplete comparison and generally considered incorrect in formal writing. Consider rephrasing with "most closely related".

What's the difference between "most closely resembles" and "is virtually identical"?

"Most closely resembles" indicates a strong similarity but not perfect identity. "Is virtually identical" suggests that two things are almost exactly the same, with only minor differences.