an impending deadline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an impending deadline" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a deadline that is approaching or imminent. Example: "With an impending deadline for the project, the team worked late into the night to ensure everything was completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Officials pointed in particular to an intelligence report before Tuesday's attacks that at least one member of Mr. bin Laden's family had been told to leave Saudi Arabia and get to a safer location, possibly Afghanistan, before an impending deadline.

The New York Times

Does he recognize the aptitude of an event as a good story when he's going through it, or does that come with reflection (or the force of an impending deadline)?

The New Yorker

So the poor agent tasked with producing the image did what any of us would do when faced with an impending deadline and a multi-million dollar operating budget: he fired up his laptop, went to Google images, found a photo of someone who looked a bit Bin Laden-y, copied his features onto the photograph, added a few wrinkles and hit 'print'print

TechCrunch

"We don't have an impending deadline for the farm bill," he said.

Huffington Post

I'm easily swept away by the lure of a juicy assignment or the pressure of an impending deadline.

Huffington Post

The pressure of an impending deadline is stressing us out because we're not making the kind of progress we hoped we'd make.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

From another perspective, this is the moment for the feast before the famine: the impending deadline means that a surge of projects are approaching completion.

The New York Times

But some thrive under pressure, producing their best work at 4am with an impending 7am deadline.

The Guardian

Former president Nixon was invited, and was sent a copy of the libretto; however, his staff indicated that he was unable to attend, due to illness and an impending publication deadline.

Wikipedia

It's a reminder of impending deadlines, an apology for tardiness, or literally communicating the exact time it is right now.

Vice

Despite the impending deadline for vacating the area, more than a dozen tents remained on Division Street on Thursday morning, some displaying signs of defiance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an impending deadline" to create a sense of urgency, but avoid overusing it, as it can lose its impact. Vary your language with alternatives like "a looming deadline" or "a fast-approaching deadline".

Common error

Avoid using "pending deadline" when you mean "an impending deadline". "Pending" suggests the deadline is awaiting a decision, whereas "impending" correctly means it is about to occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an impending deadline" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. As evidenced by Ludwig, it identifies and describes a specific type of deadline, one that is approaching and requires attention. The phrase creates a sense of urgency.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

17%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an impending deadline" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a deadline that is approaching soon. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts, predominantly in news and media. While it's appropriate to use in different settings, from professional to academic, remember its core function: to emphasize urgency and motivate timely action. For variety, consider related phrases like "a looming deadline" or "a fast-approaching deadline". However, avoid confusion with similar terms like "pending deadline", which carries a different meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a looming deadline

Replaces "impending" with "looming", emphasizing the threatening nature of the deadline.

an approaching deadline

Substitutes "impending" with "approaching", focusing on the nearness of the deadline.

a fast-approaching deadline

Adds "fast" to "approaching" to intensify the sense of urgency.

a rapidly approaching deadline

Similar to 'a fast-approaching deadline', but uses 'rapidly' for emphasis.

a deadline that's just around the corner

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate the deadline is very close.

the deadline is drawing near

Emphasizes the progression towards the deadline.

the deadline is fast approaching

Rephrases the sentence to place emphasis on the speed of the deadline's approach.

the deadline is upon us

Indicates that the deadline is very close and unavoidable.

a coming deadline

A simple substitution of "impending" with "coming", keeping the meaning very similar.

an imminent deadline

Replaces "impending" with "imminent" suggesting the event is about to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "an impending deadline" in a sentence?

You can use "an impending deadline" to emphasize the urgency of completing a task before a specific date. For example, "The team worked tirelessly due to an impending deadline".

What are some alternatives to "an impending deadline"?

You can use alternatives like "a looming deadline", "an approaching deadline", or "a fast-approaching deadline" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "pending deadline" instead of "an impending deadline"?

While "pending" means awaiting a decision, "impending" means about to happen. Therefore, "an impending deadline" is more appropriate when referring to a deadline that is approaching.

What's the difference between "an impending deadline" and "a looming deadline"?

Both phrases are similar, but "a looming deadline" often carries a slightly more negative connotation, suggesting the deadline is a source of stress or worry, while "an impending deadline" is more neutral.