close the course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close the course" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the conclusion or termination of a course, such as an educational program or a competitive event. Example: "After reviewing all the submissions, we have decided to close the course for new enrollments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Some marathons have a cut-off time where they close the course.

The New York Times - Sports

And in some ways, the question with which we're going to close the course–how does rational versus nonrational persuasion work, what are the roles of literary as opposed to argumentative representations of the good life is a version of this dilemma, operationalized.

Yale University

At the end of December he will close the course, and it will become a public park.In this section The rule of three The uses of history Conquistador of Metroland The flight of the turkey I will survive Perfidious America On the trail of Hernán Cortés The man who thought Gandhi a sissy Empire of the pig Ancient and modern mariners Why is everyone so busy?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The next day, Mr. Gustafson closed the course.

The New York Times - Sports

Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education and a UCMP visiting scholar, closed the course with a discussion on current antievolution strategies, the intelligent design movement, and recent legal decisions concerning the teaching of evolution.

University of California, Berkeley

Mesa Verde golf staff closed the course for two or three days last week.

Los Angeles Times

Cox said many houses are close to the course, so close that on some days she can hear frustrated golfers from her porch.

The Washington Post

Because they close down the course when he is on it you can get round in under three hours.

The Guardian - Sport

I really wanted to get close to the course record," said Radcliffe, who won by 66 seconds from Tanzania's Restituta Joseph.

The Guardian - Sport

The project will begin May 15 and close down the course for most of the summer.

Los Angeles Times

Results of performance for 39 health professionals on the test administered at the beginning and close of the course is summarized in Table 1.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close the course" when referring to the official ending or temporary suspension of a course, whether academic, athletic, or instructional.

Common error

Avoid using "close the course" interchangeably with phrases like "finish the course" or "complete the course" when referring to individual participation. "Close the course" typically implies the cessation of the course itself, not an individual's progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close the course" functions as a verb phrase indicating the termination or suspension of a defined path or program. As shown by Ludwig, it's used in contexts ranging from marathons to academic studies, signifying the end of a defined period or activity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close the course" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe the termination or suspension of a structured activity, such as a race or an academic program. Ludwig AI suggests that while relatively rare, it appears in diverse contexts including news, academia, and sports. When writing, it's important to differentiate between the closing of the course itself versus an individual's completion of it. Alternative phrases such as "end the course" or "conclude the course" can be used depending on the context to give further nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end the course

Replaces "close" with "end", focusing on termination but is less common in sports contexts.

conclude the course

Uses "conclude" instead of "close", highlighting the completion aspect.

shut down the course

Emphasizes a temporary or permanent halt to the course operations.

close down the course

Similar to shutting down but slightly more formal.

terminate the course

A more formal way of saying "end the course", often used in official settings.

bring the course to an end

A lengthier but equivalent expression emphasizing finality.

suspend the course

Indicates a temporary halt to the course activities.

adjourn the course

Implies a temporary suspension with the intention of resuming later.

discontinue the course

Suggests a more permanent ending, possibly due to lack of interest or funding.

finalize the course

Focuses on the act of making the course complete and finished.

FAQs

What does it mean to "close the course"?

To "close the course" typically means to end or temporarily suspend the course. It can refer to anything from an academic class being finished to a marathon route being shut down to participants.

When is it appropriate to use "close the course"?

It's appropriate to use "close the course" when discussing the termination or temporary halting of a specific course, whether it's an academic program, sporting event, or other structured activity. If you mean finishing the course as a participant you can use alternatives like "complete the course".

Which is more suitable in academic setting, "close the course" or "end the course"?

Both "close the course" and "end the course" can be suitable, but "end the course" might sound more natural in a general academic context. The better phrasing always depends on the specific context.

What are some alternative ways to say "close the course"?

Some alternatives include "conclude the course", "shut down the course", "terminate the course", or "bring the course to an end", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.