close a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the end of a ten-year period or the transition from one decade to another. Example: "As we close a decade, it's important to reflect on the changes we've experienced over the past ten years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Their heyday together, as director and actor, respectively, began in 1972, with "Aguirre, Wrath of God," and came to a majestic close a decade later, with "Fitzcarraldo".

The New Yorker

It was the Wagner shrine's first opera season since the war had forced it to close, a decade earlier; Kirstein's mother, Rose, had eagerly bought tickets for herself and her two sons, and they set out from Boston for a summer of cultural touring.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A sale of its depository business, which includes savings and money market accounts, will close a decade-long venture.

The New York Times

A deal was being struck by political leaders of two nations that would close a decade-long investigation even before an indictment was brought.

The New York Times

That plant opened in 1978 and closed a decade later.

The New York Times

From its 1952 opening until its closing a decade later, the Tanager Gallery on East 10th Street was the model of an artists' co-ops.

The New York Times - Arts

Quatorze, which opened in 1984 and closed a decade later, was the bistro that showed how a bistro should be done, years ahead of the current bistro boom.

The New York Times - Food

The '60s "abruptly ended on August 9 , 1969" Joan Didion wrote of the shocking crimes that closed a decade pocked with assassinations, Vietnam War deaths and other violence.

Los Angeles Times

You hear it everywhere today: higher education needs massive disruption; the traditional model of education is dead; a third or more of higher education institutions will be closed a decade from now.

Huffington Post

He spent close to a decade chasing leads, until his office closed last year.

The Guardian

Close to a decade in the making, the most important trade pact in a generation moved closer to becoming a reality on Monday.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “close a decade” to emphasize the ending of a time period and transitioning into the next phase. This can be used when discussing the impacts of the past decade and what can be expected from the new one.

Common error

Avoid using "close a decade" when referring to events that only lasted a portion of the decade. Ensure the context genuinely involves a period spanning ten years.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close a decade" functions as a verb phrase, often used transitively to describe the act of ending a specific period of ten years. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close a decade" is a grammatically sound and usable expression referring to the end of a ten-year period. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register making it appropriate for various forms of writing. While alternatives such as "end a decade" and "conclude a decade" exist, "close a decade" provides a specific nuance that writers can leverage to effectively convey the conclusion or transition associated with this period.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end a decade

Replaces "close" with "end", a more straightforward synonym.

conclude a decade

Uses "conclude" to emphasize the completion of the decade.

bring a decade to a close

A more formal and emphatic way of expressing the end of the decade.

wrap up a decade

Offers a more informal way to say the decade is ending.

the decade draws to a close

Suggests a gradual ending of the decade.

mark the end of a decade

Focuses on the act of recognizing the decade's conclusion.

a decade concludes

Uses a slightly more literary and passive construction.

the decade's end

Simplifies the phrase to a noun phrase, focusing on the terminal point of the decade.

see the decade out

An idiomatic expression meaning to live through to the end of the decade.

the termination of a decade

A more formal and less common way of saying the decade ends.

FAQs

What does "close a decade" mean?

The phrase "close a decade" means to bring a ten-year period to an end. It suggests a conclusion or transition from one decade to the next.

How can I use "close a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "close a decade" to describe events, trends, or achievements that have occurred over a ten-year period and are now coming to an end. For example, "As we "end a decade", we reflect on the progress made in technology."

What are some alternatives to "close a decade"?

Some alternatives include ""end a decade"", "conclude a decade", or "wrap up a decade". The best choice depends on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "closing a decade" instead of "close a decade"?

Yes, "closing a decade" is also correct. It emphasizes the ongoing process of ending the decade, while "close a decade" focuses more on the finality of the event.