never remotely close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never remotely close" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is far from being accurate or similar to what is being compared. Example: "The final score of the game was never remotely close to what we expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

What once was the height of baseball excitement -- a pennant race that goes to the wire -- has been replaced by hyperventilating over the Phillies and the Marlins, teams never remotely close to first place all year.

The New York Times - Sports

On the negative side, though, the car was never remotely close to the pace in the dry.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

For over 100 years, we've relied on attempting to cut the drug supply by locking up dealers or restricting access to certain chemicals – and this has never remotely come close to solving the problem.

The Guardian - Opinion

Assistant Secretary of Defense Thomas B. Ross said, "We weren't remotely close to World War III.O Unfortunately, we can never be truly "remote" until we rid the world of nuclear weapons.

The New Yorker

The analogy is not remotely close.

Forbes

But the conflicts in the former Yugo­slavia never remotely came close to triggering a continental or global conflict, as they would have just a few decades earlier.

Forbes

Albania had never come remotely close to a major tournament before and had finished fifth in a six-team group in World Cup 2014 qualifying.

The Guardian - Sport

Even so, he has never strayed remotely close to a billion-dollar gross, and his latest feature is still stuck in development.

The Guardian - Film

But Europe has never got remotely close to standing on its own feet militarily since 1945, even French attempts at breakouts (from de Gaulle onward) have been more political cosmetics – and comic – than serious.

The Guardian

The band dispensed novelty effects, which included a great deal of whistling, yodelling and barber-shop sentimentality, and never came remotely close to the great bands of the day.

The Guardian

But to many conservatives, the right has never come remotely close to getting what it actually wants, whether in the Reagan era or the Gingrich years or now the age of the Tea Party — because what it wants is an actually smaller government, as opposed to one that just grows somewhat more slowly than liberals and the left would like.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never remotely close" to strongly emphasize that something is far from a particular state or achievement. It adds a layer of intensity compared to simply saying "not close".

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers. Saying "never even remotely close" can sound redundant. Choose the intensifier that best suits your intended emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never remotely close" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or adjective, adding emphasis to the extent to which something fails to achieve a particular state or quality. It acts as a strong negation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "never remotely close" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to strongly emphasize that something is far from a particular state or achievement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It functions as an adverbial phrase and is commonly found in news and media, as well as sports contexts. While "not even close" is a simpler alternative, "never remotely close" adds a layer of intensity. Remember to avoid redundant intensifiers and use it to add impactful emphasis to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not even close

Simpler and more direct; lacks the emphasis of 'remotely'.

nowhere near

Common alternative, emphasizing the distance or difference.

not remotely similar

Focuses on the lack of similarity, rather than closeness to a goal.

not in the same ballpark

Idiomatic expression implying a large difference in scale or quality.

worlds apart

Emphasizes a significant difference, implying distinct realms or experiences.

a far cry from

Highlights a substantial difference, often implying disappointment or unmet expectations.

miles away from

Emphasizes the great distance from a target or goal.

distinctly different

Highlights the clear and obvious difference between items.

bears no resemblance to

Formal expression indicating a complete lack of similarity.

couldn't be further from the truth

Emphasizes the falsity of a statement, rather than distance.

FAQs

How can I use "never remotely close" in a sentence?

Use "never remotely close" to highlight a significant difference or a failure to achieve a certain level. For example: "The team's performance was "never remotely close" to their potential."

What can I say instead of "never remotely close"?

You can use alternatives like "not even close", "nowhere near", or "a far cry from" depending on the context.

Is "never remotely close" formal or informal?

"Never remotely close" falls into a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its impact comes from the emphasis it provides rather than the level of formality.

Which is correct, "never remotely close" or "not remotely close"?

Both "never remotely close" and "not remotely close" are grammatically correct. "Never remotely close" implies that something has consistently failed to approach the desired outcome, while "not remotely close" indicates a current state of disparity.