near match

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "near match" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where something is not a perfect match, but is very similar or close to a match. Example: "The color of the new sofa is a near match to the wall paint, making the living room look cohesive and stylish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The dress was a near match for the tennis court.

The New York Times

But the search yielded a near match to a convict with an unusually similar DNA profile.

The New York Times

Given the near match for the premiere, that will be the number the series will aim for in Season 6.

The New York Times

Constance is her near match when it comes to keeping an ironic distance from matters of the heart.

The New Yorker

Yet the Republican front-runner of the moment, Rick Santorum, is with the minority on each of these issues, and Mitt Romney is a near match.

The New York Times

All that mutual angst makes a deal seem logical, and their salaries for next season are a near match, which makes a deal seem possible.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

It's safe to predict that Nader will come nowhere near matching the 2.9 million votes he got in 2000.

The New Yorker

But the scale, skill and productivity of the labour force there, and in countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia, nowhere near matches China's, argues Mr Sirkin.

The Economist

After reaching the Stanley Cup finals last season, the Senators seemed to be setting a high standard for the Eastern Conference, a level the Rangers looked nowhere near matching.

The New York Times - Sports

But McCoist insists that they are nowhere near matching the Scottish champions' valuation of the player.

BBC

And while Silicon Valley wages appear high on the surface, they come nowhere near matching the astronomical local real estate prices. .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data analysis results, use "near match" to indicate that results aren't exact but are significantly similar, suggesting a potential relationship or trend.

Common error

Avoid using "near match" when describing items that are distinctly different. Reserve it for situations where the resemblance is substantial but not perfect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "near match" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a descriptor or identifier for something that closely resembles something else without being identical. Ludwig's analysis supports this, showing its prevalence across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "near match" is a frequently used noun phrase indicating a close but not perfect similarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate in various contexts, primarily news and media, science, and wiki sources. While synonyms like "close resemblance" or "approximate correspondence" exist, "near match" provides a concise way to convey similarity without implying exactness. When employing this phrase, remember to reserve it for substantial resemblances and avoid overstating the similarity when differences are significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close resemblance

Emphasizes the visual similarity or likeness between two things.

approximate correspondence

Highlights the inexact but still relevant matching of characteristics.

relative similarity

Focuses on the degree to which things are alike, rather than identical.

partial likeness

Indicates that only some aspects are similar, not all.

almost identical

Suggests a very high degree of similarity, stopping just short of being the same.

comparable analog

Implies a function or role that is similar, even if the physical form differs.

parallel instance

Highlights similar happenings or cases in different contexts.

matching closely

Focuses on the action of matching and the degree to which it succeeds.

resembling nearly

Emphasizes the act of resembling in an approximate way.

analogous counterpart

Suggests a similar but not necessarily identical counterpart in a different system or set of circumstances.

FAQs

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

You can use "near match" to describe something that is very similar but not identical to something else. For example, "The paint color was a "near match" to the original."

What's the difference between "near match" and "perfect match"?

"Near match" indicates a close similarity but not an exact correspondence, while "perfect match" implies an exact correspondence.

What can I say instead of "near match"?

You can use alternatives like "close resemblance", "approximate correspondence", or "relative similarity" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "near match" in formal writing?

Yes, "near match" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to describe a close but not exact similarity. Ensure the context makes it clear that it is not a perfect match.