close to ends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to ends" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing proximity to completion or conclusion, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "The project is close to ends, and we should prepare for the final presentation."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the discrimination task, the participants gave more "different" responses to the pairs of acoustically different stimuli (i.e., hits) in the middle of the continuum (e.g., 3 5 and 4 6) than to pairs that were close to ends of the continuum (e.g., 1 3 and 6 8; Fig. 2 B, Supplementary Table 2).

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I came close to ending it, I did.

BBC

That said, the crisis isn't close to ending, either.

The New York Times

Senators 'very close' to ending NSA phone programs.

The Washington Post

This year, centralisation came close to ending the UK.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first period, evenly played, was close to ending with the score 0-0.

The New York Times - Sports

And at the time there was no indication that this game was close to ending.

The New York Times - Sports

There were a couple of occasions we felt we were close to ending it.

The New York Times

Saddam was, as the Duelfer report noted, "palpably close" to ending sanctions.

The New York Times

The Devils came close to ending another day with no points.

The New York Times - Sports

Each of the crewmen had lived twenty-six yeand, and each came close to ending it there.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to ends", ensure the context clearly defines what 'ends' refers to. Be specific about whether you mean the end of a process, a physical boundary, or a figurative limit.

Common error

Avoid using "close to ends" in ambiguous contexts where 'ends' could be misinterpreted as something other than a conclusion or boundary. Clarity is crucial to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to ends" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating proximity to a boundary or conclusion. Ludwig examples show its use in academic research and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to ends" is a prepositional phrase indicating proximity to a conclusion or limit. While grammatically acceptable, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's not a very common expression. Its usage spans scientific, news, and general contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what 'ends' refers to. Better alternatives like "approaching completion" or "nearing the final stages" may provide better clarity in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearing the final stages

Emphasizes the progression towards the end; uses a more descriptive and less literal approach.

approaching completion

Focuses on the state of being nearly finished, suitable for projects or tasks.

drawing to a close

A more figurative way of saying something is ending, often used for events or periods of time.

on the verge of ending

Highlights the imminence of the end, adding a sense of anticipation or finality.

almost finished

A simpler and more direct way to express nearness to completion.

nearing its conclusion

Similar to 'approaching completion' but more formal, often used in academic or business contexts.

close to the limit

Indicates proximity to a defined boundary or maximum value.

at the tail end

Describes being near the final part of something, like a process or event.

in the home stretch

An idiomatic expression indicating the final part of a race or project.

reaching the deadline

Focuses on the approaching date or time by which something must be completed.

FAQs

How can I use "close to ends" in a sentence?

You can use "close to ends" to indicate proximity to a boundary or conclusion. For example, "The project is "close to ends", so we need to finalize the presentation."

What are some alternatives to "close to ends"?

Alternatives include "nearing the final stages", "approaching completion", or "drawing to a close", depending on the context.

In what contexts is "close to ends" most appropriate?

"Close to ends" is suitable in contexts where you want to emphasize the nearness to a defined boundary or the final stages of a process. It is less common in informal settings.

Is "close to ends" a formal or informal expression?

"Close to ends" leans towards being a neutral expression, suitable for both professional and general contexts, but may sound slightly awkward due to its relative infrequency.