as it neared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it neared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something approaching or getting closer to a particular point in time or space. Example: "As it neared the end of the race, the crowd erupted in cheers for the runners."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our journey through her films has now been tragically interrupted, just as it neared its end.

The Guardian - Film

As it neared its destination in Ibirapuera Park, the procession slowed.

The Guardian - Sport

The video above shows a peek of what the spacecraft saw as it neared its final approach.

TechCrunch

The storm continued to slow as it neared its final landfall, and winds around the eyewall slightly decreased.

Wikipedia

As it neared its closest approach to Earth, it rapidly became brighter, and its tail grew in length.

Wikipedia

Last week, Dexia's stock price plunged 42 percent and, as it neared collapse, its shares stopped trading Thursday.

The New York Times

The 20m (66ft) vessel began taking on water when its motor stopped working as it neared Lampedusa on Thursday morning, survivors said.

BBC

On November 28, as it neared the Canary Islands Tropical Storm Delta lost its tropical characteristics.

Wikipedia

The convoy came under attack as it neared Baghdad.

The New York Times

Construction of Los Manatiales restaurant as it neared completion in 1957.

Princeton University

Death came closer quickly on that second day and as it neared, his pain increased significantly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it neared" to create a sense of anticipation or immediacy in your writing. This phrase effectively conveys the idea of something approaching a specific point, whether in time or space. For instance, 'As the deadline neared, the team worked tirelessly to complete the project.'

Common error

Avoid using "as it neared" in overly simple sentences where a more direct construction would be clearer. For example, instead of 'As it neared the station, the train slowed down', consider 'The train slowed down as it approached the station'.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase. The phrase "as it neared" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by providing information about when or how something happened. It introduces a temporal element, indicating that an action occurred in relation to something approaching a specific point in time or space. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

20%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as it neared" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to set a scene or provide context by indicating that something is approaching a particular point in time or space. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across a variety of sources, particularly in news and media. While it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, overuse in simple sentences should be avoided for clarity. Alternatives like "as it approached" or "when it was close to" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as it approached

Replaces 'neared' with 'approached', maintaining a similar meaning but with a slightly different nuance.

as it drew closer

Uses 'drew closer' instead of 'neared', indicating a gradual reduction in distance.

as it came closer to

Adds 'came closer' for emphasis on the movement.

in its approach

Changes the structure to a noun phrase using 'approach' to convey the same meaning.

when nearing

Concise alternative, appropriate for contexts where brevity is valued.

upon its nearing

More formal and less common, using 'nearing' as a gerund.

with the approach of

Focuses on the act of approaching, often used to describe events or times.

as it closed in on

Implies a sense of finality in approaching a destination or state.

when it was close to

Uses a clause structure to express proximity.

in proximity to

More formal and concise, focusing on the state of being near.

FAQs

How can I use "as it neared" in a sentence?

Use "as it neared" to describe something moving closer to a specific location or time. For example, "As the car neared the intersection, it slowed down" or "As the date neared, everyone became more excited".

What are some alternatives to "as it neared"?

Alternatives include "as it approached", "as it drew closer", or "when it was close to" depending on the context.

Is "as it neared" formal or informal?

"As it neared" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than on the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "as it neared" and "as it approached"?

While both phrases are similar, "as it neared" suggests a closing of distance, while "as it approached" can imply a more general movement towards something. The choice often depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.