substantially closer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially closer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant degree of proximity or similarity in comparison to something else. Example: "After the renovations, the new design is substantially closer to the original concept than the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Towards the end of the Overture I realise that the ceiling is substantially closer than it was at the start.

The Guardian - Music

Moody's said the United States and other major Western nations, particularly Britain, have moved "substantially" closer to losing their gilt-edged ratings.

The New York Times

On Thursday, five weeks after Qatar was elected to host the 2022 World Cup, the control of Asian soccer moved substantially closer to the Arab world.

The New York Times - Sports

Indeed, worries about the growth of national, or sovereign, debt prompted Moody's Investors Service to warn on Monday that the United States and other Western nations were moving "substantially" closer to losing their top-notch Aaa credit ratings.

The New York Times

In an interview with the Guardian on the day after he announced ing his intentions, Hunt said he believed junior doctors would come to see it as a good deal, arguing that the terms were "substantially closer to what the BMA were asking for".

The Guardian

However, a Product Development Partnership to overcome this hurdle could accelerate the time lines towards when control of ETEC disease in DCs is substantially closer.

Vaccine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

A spokesman for Vattenfall said: "We're pressing ahead because we believe that that way is substantially closed.

The Guardian

report released Thursday threw cold water on Republican beliefs that a simplified tax code that lowered income and payroll taxes and closed loopholes to make up for lost revenue would substantially close the deficit by boosting economic growth.

The New York Times

As Sean Trende of RealClearPolitics has pointed out, for all the talk about how important Hispanics are to the conservative future, the Republican Party could substantially close the gap with Democrats in presidential elections if its post-Obama share of the African-American vote merely climbed back above 10 percent — a feat achieved by Bob Dole and both Bushes.

The New York Times

Importantly, as shown in Table 5, the placebo treatment DD estimates are again substantially close to zero, and the point estimates are statistically non-significant.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

The fact that students are highly familiar with this work tool, which they use in daily life, is also a factor worth considering as it places this work system substantially close to students' lives.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially closer" to emphasize a notable convergence or reduction in difference between two points or ideas.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "substantially closer" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "much closer" or "a lot nearer" for everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially closer" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. It describes the degree to which something has approached or neared another thing or state. As shown in the Ludwig examples, the phrase indicates a significant convergence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially closer" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a significant reduction in distance or difference. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, predominantly in news, media, and scientific domains. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where a formal tone is appropriate, ensuring clarity and impact in conveying the degree of convergence or proximity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably closer

Indicates a significant and measurable decrease in distance.

considerably nearer

Emphasizes a notable decrease in physical or metaphorical distance.

significantly nearer

Highlights the importance of the proximity, it sounds less formal.

markedly closer

Stresses the obviousness of the reduced distance.

appreciably closer

Highlights how noticeable the change is.

noticeably closer

Focuses on the ease with which the reduced distance can be observed.

much closer

More informal way to denote a decrease in distance.

vastly closer

Suggests an extensive reduction in the distance.

considerably near

Similar to considerably closer, but uses the adjective "near" instead.

significantly near

Expresses proximity in a formal context, using near instead of closer.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially closer" in a sentence?

You can use "substantially closer" to describe a significant reduction in distance or difference. For example: "After the merger, the companies' cultures became "substantially closer"".

What are some alternatives to "substantially closer"?

Some alternatives include "considerably closer", "significantly nearer", or "much closer" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "substantially near" or "substantially closer"?

"Substantially closer" is generally preferred when you're describing a change in distance or similarity. "Substantially near" is grammatically correct, but less common. It simply describes the state of being near.

What does "substantially closer" imply about the degree of change?

It implies a considerable or significant degree of change, not just a slight or marginal one. The distance or difference has been reduced in a meaningful way.