at the close

USAGE SUMMARY

"at the close" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about the end of something, such as "At the close of his speech, the room erupted in applause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Durham 132 for two at the close.

The Guardian - Sport

At the close of the evidence, respondent renewed his motion.

Cornell University

Respondents made this motion both at the close of the prosecution's case and at the close of all evidence.

Cornell University

At the close of the evening, Mr. Badie was noncommittal.

The New York Times

At the close, Australia were 307 for 4.

Independent

The shares were down 4.6 percent at the close.

The New York Times

At the close, everyone applauded for fifteen seconds.

The New Yorker

At the close, shares of Apache fell $2.81, to $85.07.

The New York Times

Following on, Surrey were 38 without loss at the close.

Independent

They were still 290 shy of that at the close.

Independent

At the close Mr. Friedheim added a Henselt study.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the close", ensure the context is clear. Specify what is ending, such as "at the close of the meeting" or "at the close of trading".

Common error

Avoid using "at the close" when you mean "near the end" or "towards the end". "At the close" implies the absolute final moment, not just the approaching end.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the close" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate when something occurs—specifically, at the ending point of an event, period, or activity. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the close" is a very common prepositional phrase used to specify the ending point of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and sees prevalent use in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While versatile, it's best used when referring to a definitive end rather than a general 'near the end'. Consider alternatives like "at the end" or "upon completion" depending on the nuance you want to convey. Pay attention to the context to ensure the phrase accurately represents the conclusion being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the end

A more general synonym referring to the final part.

upon completion

Focuses on the action being finished.

in conclusion

Emphasizes the summarizing aspect of ending something.

on finishing

Focuses on the act of finishing something.

as it concludes

Highlights the process of ending.

at the termination

More formal synonym, suggesting a definitive ending.

at the expiration

Often used when referring to contracts or time-sensitive events.

when finalized

Stresses the aspect of being made final.

by the deadline

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of ending at a specific time.

subsequent to the ending

Emphasizes what happens after the end.

FAQs

How can I use "at the close" in a sentence?

You can use "at the close" to indicate the end of an event, period, or activity. For example, "At the close of the conference, attendees networked and exchanged ideas."

What are some alternatives to "at the close"?

Alternatives include "at the end", "in conclusion", or "upon completion", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "at the close" or "at the end"?

"At the close" often carries a slightly more formal tone than "at the end", making it suitable for professional or academic writing.

What is the difference between "at the close" and "at the closing"?

"At the close" refers to the end point, while "at the closing" often refers to a specific event, such as a real estate transaction.