close to graduating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to graduating" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is nearing the completion of their academic program or degree. Example: "After four years of hard work, I am finally close to graduating from university."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

My daughter is close to graduating from college.

The New York Times

Most lenders, however, will continue to lend to a student who is very close to graduating.

The New York Times

I am close to graduating with a master's degree in electrical engineering, and I'm interested in having my own company someday.

Forbes

I thought I'd be close to graduating.

Huffington Post

"But now that some of us are getting close to graduating, I know that more of the guys are thinking about what's ahead.

The New York Times - Sports

Most of these young players, forced to attend college because of the N.B.A.'s minimum age requirement (19) and its condition that eligible players be at least a year removed from high school, are not close to graduating and probably aren't thinking about going back.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The next night, they would dress up and dance raucously for four hours before tumbling back outside, one step closer to graduating.

The New York Times - Magazine

The 28-year-old, who played one Test on last winter's tour of West Indies, is among four players identified from the recent performance programme as being closest to graduating to the England side.

The Guardian - Sport

England Performance Programme Squads Players perceived closest to graduating into the England team and who have been part of the programme and Lions teams in recent years Mark Davies (Durham), Amjad Khan (Kent, Stephen Mooree (Lancashire), Michael Carberry (Hampshire).

The Guardian - Sport

As she got closer to graduating, she prepared for graduate school.

Science Magazine

Too many students make the mistake of believing that it is alright to start these types of activities once they are close to graduation or have already graduated.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to graduating", ensure the context clearly indicates the academic program or degree being completed. For example, specify 'close to graduating with a master's degree' for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "close to graduating" without specifying the field of study. Saying 'I'm close to graduating' is less informative than 'I'm close to graduating with a degree in engineering'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to graduating" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the state of nearing completion of an academic program. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing someone who is in the final stages of their studies. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to graduating" is a valid and commonly used phrase to describe someone nearing the completion of their studies. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal communication. To ensure clarity, always specify the field of study when using the phrase. Alternatives include "nearing graduation" and "about to graduate". While not very frequent, the Ludwig examples show that "close to graduating" appears in authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Science Magazine, lending credibility to its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearing graduation

Emphasizes the process of approaching graduation.

almost graduating

Highlights the imminence of graduation.

about to graduate

Indicates an immediate future event of graduating.

on the verge of graduating

Suggests a critical point right before graduating.

approaching graduation

Focuses on the gradual process of getting closer to graduation.

nearing completion of studies

Formal alternative, emphasizes the completion of academic studies.

drawing near to graduation

More descriptive and emphasizes the gradual approach of graduation.

in the final stages of studies

Highlights that the academic work is almost finished.

close to finishing degree

Focuses specifically on finishing a degree program.

nearly a graduate

Implies a status of almost being a graduate.

FAQs

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

You can use "close to graduating" to indicate that someone is nearing the end of their academic program. For example, "She is "close to graduating" from medical school."

What are some alternatives to saying "close to graduating"?

Alternatives include "nearing graduation", "almost graduating", or "about to graduate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "close to graduate" instead of "close to graduating"?

While "close to graduate" might be understood, "close to graduating" is the grammatically correct and more commonly used form. The gerund form emphasizes the ongoing nature of the process.

What's the difference between "close to graduating" and "nearing graduation"?

"Close to graduating" and "nearing graduation" are very similar, but "nearing graduation" places a slightly stronger emphasis on the process of approaching the graduation date.