operated closely with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "operated closely with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where two or more parties worked together in a collaborative manner. Example: "The team operated closely with the local community to ensure the project met their needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Poulson operated closely with the Newcastle city boss T Dan Smith, who had tried to create what he called the Brasilia of the north.

The Guardian - Books

The SASR operated closely with the New Zealand SAS, with a troop being attached to each Australian squadron from late 1968.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The UK spy agency GCHQ is reported to run a similarly vast data collection operation, co-operating closely with the NSA.

BBC

During its existence the company co-operated closely with Widerøe, which was approved by the authorities as the operators maintenance organization.

Wikipedia

He added: "Since we announced our mistake in May we have co-operated closely with the ICO and worked to improve our internal controls.

Independent

The administration of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva publicly denied that militant Islamists were active in Brazil, even while its law enforcement agencies co-operated closely with the US in monitoring suspects.

The Guardian

Governments in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are co-operating closely with America to fight these threats.

The Economist

Mr Kim co-operates closely with Iran on missile development, and most recently supplied it with nuclear-capable missiles able to fly 2,500km 1,1500 miles).

The Economist

It will argue that, in a dangerous world, we will be safer if we co-operate closely with our EU partners on defence and fighting crime and terrorism.

Independent

For his part, Mr Putin seems to accept that, if Russia is to revive, it must co-operate closely with the West, especially in the marketplace.

The Economist

In 2008, the United States imposed sanctions aimed at shutting down a Venezuelan-based bank that it said was operating closely with an Iranian bank that helped finance Iran's weapons development program.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "operated closely with", ensure the context clearly indicates a collaborative effort, not just proximity. For example, "The research team "operated closely with" the local hospital to gather data effectively" emphasizes active collaboration.

Common error

Avoid using "operated closely with" when the relationship is merely observational or passive. For instance, saying "The inspector "operated closely with" the machine" implies active involvement in its function, which might be misleading if the inspector was only monitoring its operation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "operated closely with" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a collaborative or coordinated action. It describes how one entity actively worked in conjunction with another. Examples on Ludwig show its usage in contexts involving intelligence agencies, research teams, and government entities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "operated closely with" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a collaborative working relationship. While not excessively frequent, as noted by Ludwig, it's appropriate for depicting coordinated efforts, particularly in neutral contexts like news reports. As demonstrated by Ludwig examples, it's crucial to use this phrase when highlighting active involvement and mutual coordination, rather than mere proximity or observation. Alternatives such as "collaborated intimately with" or "worked in conjunction with" can be used to add emphasis or nuance to the collaboration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engaged in close collaboration with

More verbose, emphasizing the collaborative nature.

collaborated intimately with

Replaces "operated" with "collaborated" and "closely" with "intimately", emphasizing a deeper level of cooperation.

cooperated effectively with

Emphasizes the effectiveness of the cooperation.

worked in conjunction with

Uses "worked in conjunction" instead of "operated", highlighting a joint effort.

partnered tightly with

Replaces "operated" with "partnered" and "closely" with "tightly", suggesting a strong alliance.

functioned jointly with

Uses "functioned jointly" instead of "operated closely", emphasizing a coordinated action.

liaised closely with

Replaces "operated" with "liaised", focusing on communication and coordination.

maintained close ties with

Shifts the focus to maintaining a relationship rather than a specific operation.

maintained a synergistic relationship with

Highlights a mutually beneficial relationship, where the combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

interacted regularly with

Highlights the consistent interaction between the parties.

FAQs

How can I use "operated closely with" in a sentence?

Use "operated closely with" to describe a collaborative working relationship between two or more entities. For example, "The intelligence agency "operated closely with" local law enforcement to gather information".

What are some alternatives to "operated closely with"?

You can use alternatives like "collaborated intimately with", "worked in conjunction with", or "partnered tightly with" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "functioned closely with" instead of "operated closely with"?

Yes, "functioned closely with" is a valid alternative. While "operated" implies a controlled action, "functioned" suggests a coordinated activity. Therefore, "functioned jointly with" can replace "operated closely with".

What is the difference between "operated closely with" and "maintained close ties with"?

"Operated closely with" refers to active collaboration and joint action, whereas "maintained close ties with" describes a sustained and cordial relationship. You "operated closely with" someone on a project, but you "maintained close ties with" someone over many years.