about to finalize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to finalize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is on the verge of being completed or concluded. Example: "We are about to finalize the contract, so please review the terms one last time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

As the Yankees were about to finalize an agreement with Mussina, they have also expressed an interest in signing Andy Morales, a Cuban defector.

The New York Times - Sports

We're now hearing that that the SEC is about to finalize its credit rating agency rules.

Huffington Post

But now, the Senate is about to finalize our rules for doing business for the coming year.

Huffington Post

Russell Crowe is about to finalize his divorce, which he's apparently decided is as good a time as any to take stock of all the weird shit he's got lying around the house and auction it off to the public.

Vice

At the ideological level, the North Caucasian rebels are about to finalize their shift from a more traditional Caucasian-oriented rhetoric to a Global-Salafi discourse associated with al Qaeda.

Huffington Post

As we were about to finalize our material for resubmission, a paper on a similar topic appeared in Neuron: Clathrin/AP-2 Mediate Synaptic Vesicle Reformation from Endosome-like Vacuoles but Are Not Essential for Membrane Retrieval at Central Synapses.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The Americans said they tried to explain to Mr. Kim some basics about the American political system so that he would understand that the White House, as it considers proposals about how to finalize North Korea's missile contraction, did not act in a vacuum.

The New York Times

It will take the company about 1.5 years to finalize the design of the train, after which production and sales can start.

TechCrunch

The rest of the letter contains the usual talking points and framing about the need to finalize reform.

Huffington Post

No Member of Congress who is sincere about wanting the Department to finalize this rule should associate him- or herself with this effort.

Huffington Post

But last week, Mr. Phatat said I.I.T. Bombay hopes to finalize details about procurement and testing of 100,000 tablets within the next ten days, which would include drawing up a new contract.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider stronger verbs (e.g. conclude, complete) or replacing "about to" with alternatives like "on the verge of" for a more polished tone.

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying too heavily on the phrase "about to finalize" in formal documents can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Vary your phrasing with stronger synonyms or more descriptive language to enhance readability and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to finalize" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating an imminent action. As shown in Ludwig, it expresses that something is on the verge of being completed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about to finalize" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express that something is nearing completion. Ludwig identifies its use in various contexts, from news reports to scientific articles. While its frequency is uncommon, it's a useful phrase to convey the imminence of a final decision or action. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "on the verge of finalizing" or "close to finalizing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of finalizing

Replaces "about to" with "on the verge of", indicating a similar state of near completion.

close to finalizing

Substitutes "about to" with "close to", conveying a sense of proximity to completion.

nearing completion

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression of approaching completion.

in the process of finalizing

Emphasizes the ongoing action of finalizing something, rather than the immediate future.

on the cusp of finalizing

Uses "on the cusp of" to suggest being at the very edge of finalizing something.

on track to finalize

Indicates that the process is proceeding as planned towards finalization.

set to finalize

Suggests a planned or scheduled finalization.

preparing to finalize

Focuses on the preparation stage immediately preceding finalization.

getting ready to finalize

An informal alternative emphasizing readiness for finalization.

drawing near to finalization

A more formal and elaborate way of saying something is approaching finalization.

FAQs

What does "about to finalize" mean?

The phrase "about to finalize" means that something is in the very last stages of completion and is expected to be finished very soon. It indicates that all or most of the necessary steps have been taken, and only the final actions remain.

What can I say instead of "about to finalize"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of finalizing", "close to finalizing", or "nearing completion" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "about to finalized"?

No, the correct phrasing is "about to finalize". "Finalize" is a verb, and in this construction, it should be in its base form after "to".

How formal is the phrase "about to finalize"?

The phrase "about to finalize" is generally considered neutral in formality. While suitable for many contexts, including news and general writing, consider more formal alternatives like "on the verge of finalizing" in highly formal or academic writing.