about to discontinue

USAGE SUMMARY

"about to discontinue" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means that something is going to stop or end soon. Example: The company announced that they are about to discontinue their old product line and introduce a new one. Example: The city's bus system is about to discontinue the use of paper tickets and switch to electronic fare cards.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Richard Neale of Business Objects, a software company based in San Jose, California, tells the story of a British supermarket that was about to discontinue a line of expensive French cheeses which were not selling well.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There are a few areas where we do have concerns about proposals to discontinue popular qualifications, in particular film studies at A-level and home economics at GCSE.

BBC

They considered their knowledge of the different types within this group of drugs as rather limited and had concerns about how to discontinue antidepressants.

BMC Family Practice

The Governor General in about 1925 began to discontinue the policy, but its total abolition took place only after the 1926 27 Indonesian Communist Uprisings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Speculation about the plan to discontinue the Nook surfaced in February.

TechCrunch

Much as I love to see beery idealism trump hard-headed business realism (at its best, that is what craft beer is all about), Robinson's decision to discontinue its mild is writing on the wall.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But if you've followed the media frenzy surrounding the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation's decision -- which it backpedaled from, with an apology, after a wave of frankly brutal coverage -- to discontinue about $700,000 in funding for Planned Parenthood, you would think all these millions of anti-abortion Americans simply do not exist.

The New York Times

All that said, the promise of Glass felt exciting before it was released, meaning that there's something galling about Google's decision to discontinue their most controversial product now, so soon after launching.

Vice

Re your Dec. 5 Sports pages article about the decision of Swarthmore College to discontinue football: The comments of alumni decrying the decision were articulate and passionate, no surprise for Swarthmore graduates.

The New York Times

Other safety-related information (recorded in the notes field of the Excel spreadsheet) that appeared most frequently included warnings about pregnancy (74.3%), lactation (64.9%), to discontinue if an adverse reaction occurred (23.0%), and that it was not for use in patients less than 18 years old (13.5%).

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

She received help from a local charity when her electric service was about to be discontinued.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to discontinue" when you want to convey a sense of immediacy and near-future cessation. For instance, "The airline is about to discontinue its service to that city due to low demand."

Common error

Avoid using "about to discontinue" when the action of discontinuing has already happened. Instead, use "discontinued" or "has discontinued". For instance, don't say "The product is about to discontinue last week"; say "The product was discontinued last week."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to discontinue" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an impending action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes that something will stop or end in the near future. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, specifying that the subject is on the cusp of terminating a process or product.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about to discontinue" serves as a clear and concise way to express an impending cessation or termination of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in many contexts, from news reports to scientific articles. While the phrase is primarily found in news and scientific publications, its straightforward nature makes it accessible for general communication. When using this phrase, be mindful of accurately reflecting the timing of the event; it's best suited for actions that are on the immediate horizon. Consider using synonyms like "on the verge of stopping" or "nearing termination" to add nuance, depending on the specific context. The phrase is a useful addition to any writer's toolkit, offering a straightforward way to express an upcoming conclusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the point of ending

Stresses the immediacy and likelihood of the end.

on the verge of stopping

Emphasizes the closeness to the act of stopping.

soon to be halted

Indicates the action will be stopped in the near future.

nearing termination

Highlights the process of reaching the end.

set to cease

Emphasizes a planned or scheduled ending.

approaching cessation

Focuses on the imminent arrival of a stopping point.

in the process of shutting down

Highlights the active steps towards termination.

drawing to a close

Implies a gradual and natural ending.

ready to conclude

Focuses on the preparedness and willingness to end.

close to being suspended

Highlights a pending suspension of an activity

FAQs

How can I use "about to discontinue" in a sentence?

Use "about to discontinue" when you want to indicate that something will stop or end very soon. For example, "The company is about to discontinue the product line due to low sales."

What are some alternatives to "about to discontinue"?

You could use phrases like "on the verge of stopping", "nearing termination", or "set to cease" to express a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "about to discontinue" and "discontinuing"?

"About to discontinue" indicates an action that will happen in the near future, while "discontinuing" refers to an action currently in progress or a general habit. For example, "The airline is about to discontinue flights" (future) versus "The airline is discontinuing unprofitable routes" (present action).

Which is correct, "about to discontinue" or "going to discontinue"?

Both "about to discontinue" and "going to discontinue" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on the desired nuance and context. "About to discontinue" can imply a greater sense of immediacy.