resemble closely

USAGE SUMMARY

"resemble closely" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate that two things are very similar in appearance or characteristics. An example: "The two paintings resemble closely, making it hard to tell which is the original." Alternative expressions include "bear a strong resemblance" and "look very similar."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

These geochemical characteristics resemble closely those of modern high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonite continental arc successions.

Lithos

All EfFIC monomers resemble closely to each other and to structures of other class III FIC proteins (Fig. 1a).

Nature

In addition, except for CV deposition, the deposited films resemble closely to cubic NiO when the annealing temperature exceeds 200 °C.

Electrochimica Acta

Finally, from an implementation point of view, we argue that ML systems resemble closely the current practice in the computer representation of propositional attitudes and metatheoretic theorem proving.

Artificial Intelligence

New identification techniques like DNA bar coding and digital imaging have allowed researchers to distinguish new species from others that they resemble closely.

The New York Times

In dilute solutions r-BT-2Th and a-BT-2Th resemble closely in absorption spectra and have similar oxidation potentials regardless of random or alternating arrangement of donor and acceptor.

Polymer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

This animal model resembles closely the alcoholic liver disease in human beings.

Alcohol

This distribution is generated from a computer-generated sphere packing which resembles closely the characteristics of a real packing.

Chemical Engineering Science

Cymbals remained virtually unchanged throughout the medieval period, resembling closely those used by the Greeks and the Romans.

Britannica

This structure resembles closely to the observed structure (Fig. 3d).

Geoscience Letters

The cellular ultrastructure and function of IPCs resembled closely those of the normal human pancreatic beta cells.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the adverb after the verb for emphasis on the degree of similarity, though placing it before the verb is often more common in contemporary prose. Choose the position that best fits your sentence's rhythm.

Common error

Do not follow "resemble" with the preposition "to" or "with". Resemble is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. Say "A resembles B" rather than "A resembles to B".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "resemble closely" functions as a transitive verb phrase. It consists of the verb "resemble" (meaning to be like or similar to) modified by the intensive adverb "closely". According to data from Ludwig, it is primarily used to establish a strong degree of correspondence between two subjects, often in comparative analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

Academia

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "resemble closely" is a robust and grammatically sound verb phrase widely utilized in formal and scientific writing. Ludwig AI data confirms that it is an essential term for researchers and journalists who need to denote a significant degree of similarity between two entities. While it is often interchangeable with "closely resemble", the post-verbal placement of the adverb provides a slightly different rhythmic emphasis that is particularly popular in technical descriptions. Writers should be careful to avoid the common mistake of adding "to" after the phrase, as "resemble" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object. Whether you are comparing cellular structures or artistic styles, this phrase offers a professional way to highlight strong connections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

closely resemble

Uses the same words but swaps the adverb position for a more common flow

bear a striking resemblance to

Adds emphasis and a more idiomatic tone to the comparison

strongly resemble

Focuses on the intensity of the likeness

look very similar to

Provides a more conversational and less formal alternative

closely match

Suggests a higher degree of alignment or exactness

mirror closely

Implies an almost exact reflection or imitation of characteristics

parallel closely

Used when comparing developments, trends or structures rather than just appearance

echo closely

Metaphorical, often used for sounds, styles or themes

approximate

More concise but suggests a near-match rather than visual likeness

mimic

Often used in biology or technology to imply functional imitation

FAQs

How do I use "resemble closely" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe two things that look almost identical, such as: "The synthetic material was designed to "resemble closely" the texture of natural silk."

What is the difference between "resemble closely" and "closely resemble"?

There is no semantic difference. "closely resemble" is more frequently used in general writing, while "resemble closely" is common in scientific descriptions to emphasize the degree of likeness.

Is it correct to say "resemble closely to"?

No, you should avoid adding "to". While some technical snippets in Ludwig show this usage, it is generally considered a grammatical error. Use "strongly resemble" or "resemble closely" followed directly by the object.

What can I say instead of "resemble closely" in a business context?

In professional settings, you might prefer "align closely with" or "be consistent with" to sound more analytical.