Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Institutional Links

 

Important notice

Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca
To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

close proximity, in proximity to, proximity

Redundancies are words that unnecessarily repeat information. Because proximity indicates nearness or closeness, the modifier close in the familiar expression close proximity is redundant.

  • Due to their proximity (not close proximity) to the Canadian border, it is only natural that they have developed a strong working relationship with their Canadian counterparts.

To write plainly and concisely, use near instead of the roundabout phrase in proximity to or in close proximity to. Other possibilities include close by, close to and nearby.

  • Redundant: The NRC wind tunnel is in close proximity to the Ottawa airport.
  • Wordy: The NRC wind tunnel is in proximity to the Ottawa airport.
  • Concise: The NRC wind tunnel is near the Ottawa airport.