"to work by" vs "to work closely"

Question

"to work by" vs "to work closely"

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and are used in different contexts. 'To work closely' implies working in a tight collaboration or close proximity with someone, while 'to work by' suggests working alongside or in the vicinity of something or someone. They are not directly comparable as they convey different ideas.

Last Updated: March 26, 2024

This phrase is used to describe working near or alongside something or someone, without necessarily implying a high level of collaboration or interaction.

Examples:

I work by the window so I can get some natural light.
The construction workers work by the roadside.
She prefers to work by herself in a quiet environment.
The artist works by the river for inspiration.
The team members work by their respective deadlines.

Alternatives:

to work alongside
to work near
to work in the vicinity of
to work next to
to work in close proximity to

This phrase is used to describe working closely with someone, implying a high level of cooperation, communication, and shared goals.

Examples:

We need to work closely with the marketing team to launch the new product successfully.
The two departments work closely together to ensure smooth operations.
It's important to work closely with your team to achieve the project goals.
The researchers work closely with the local community to gather data.
The teacher works closely with each student to address their individual needs.

Alternatives:

to collaborate closely
to work in close cooperation
to work in close proximity
to work hand in hand
to work together closely

Answer 1

to work by

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate working alongside or in the vicinity of something or someone.

Answer 2

to work closely

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate working in close collaboration or proximity with someone.

"to work by" vs "to work closely"

to work by

to work closely

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