My first contribution to the What is a Word/Phrase™ puzzle series started by JLee over a year ago.
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Close-Knit Word™.
Use the list of examples below to find out what this rule is.
$$\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Close-Knit Words™}&\textbf{Not Close-Knit Words™}\\ \hline \text{EDUCATION}&\text{LEARNING}\\ \hline \text{FOGHORN}&\text{KLAXON}\\ \hline \text{ARTISTIC}&\text{IMAGINATIVE}\\ \hline \text{BOOTSTRAPS}&\text{SHOELACES}\\ \hline \text{ELIMINATE}&\text{EXTERMINATE}\\ \hline \text{PONYTAIL}&\text{PLAIT}\\ \hline \text{HIKING}&\text{WALKING}\\ \hline \text{REMUNERATION}&\text{RETURN}\\ \hline \text{FAVOURITE}&\text{BOOKMARK}\\ \hline \text{BACKDROP}&\text{SCENERY}\\ \hline \text{FENCED}&\text{PRIVATE}\\ \hline \text{JAYWALKING}&\text{BURGLARY}\\ \hline \text{INQUIRIES}&\text{INVESTIGATION}\\ \hline \text{DISGUSTING}&\text{REVOLTING}\\ \hline \end{array} $$
Text-only version for analysis:
EDUCATION LEARNING FOGHORN KLAXON ARTISTIC IMAGINATIVE BOOTSTRAPS SHOELACES ELIMINATE EXTERMINATE PONYTAIL PLAIT HIKING WALKING REMUNERATION RETURN FAVOURITE BOOKMARK BACKDROP SCENERY FENCED PRIVATE JAYWALKING BURGLARY INQUIRIES INVESTIGATION DISGUSTING REVOLTING