closing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closing to" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to convey a sense of nearing or approaching something, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "The project is closing to completion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Some loans are actually audited after closing, to check).

The New York Times

Short-term markets have also been closing to some banks.

The Economist

Closing to third place, Lucky Livi couldn't catch the leaders.

The New York Times - Sports

Next month, the Donnell is closing, to make way for a hotel.

The New Yorker

As for Pennsylvania, two recent polls have McCain closing to within four points.

The New York Times

Across the country there are examples of departments restricting referrals or even closing to new referrals.

The Guardian

The café was closing, to the music of much chair-scraping.

The New Yorker

With hours to go before closing to further pledges, their fundraising total stands at $624,905.

The Guardian - Books

Oracle made up distance on the downwind leg, closing to 10 seconds near the buoy.

The New York Times - Sports

I felt the pain of a last haven for journalists in the country closing to them.

The Guardian

The penguin seemed to be sleeping, the white rings around its eyes closing to a slit and gently pulsating.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "closing to" with more accurate terms like "approaching", "nearing", or "moving toward" depending on the context. This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "closing to" when you mean "approaching". Although you might find it in various sources, it's generally considered incorrect. Opt for alternatives that are grammatically sound to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closing to" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often attempting to indicate movement or progression toward a specific state or location. However, it is grammatically questionable, as noted by Ludwig. The examples show usage across various contexts, but the phrase's non-standard nature affects its reliability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

35%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "closing to" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. It is often used to express the idea of approaching or nearing something. However, it's best to replace it with more appropriate alternatives such as "approaching", "nearing", or "moving toward" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. Despite its frequent occurrence, relying on grammatically sound alternatives enhances credibility and precision in writing. While found in reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Wikipedia, the grammatical inaccuracy diminishes its overall reliability for formal usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approaching

Indicates a movement or progression closer to a specific point, similar to "closing to", but without the grammatical issue.

nearing

Implies getting closer to a specific time, event or location. Synonymous with approaching but more commonly used.

moving toward

Highlights directionality, indicating a shift or progress towards a particular goal or destination.

drawing near

Emphasizes the progressive reduction of distance and the imminence of reaching a specific point or condition.

verging on

Suggests coming close to, but not quite reaching, a particular state or quality, implying a slight difference.

becoming closer to

A more verbose but grammatically correct way of expressing approximation.

converging on

Describes the act of multiple elements or paths coming together at a single point or objective.

getting close to

An informal way to express nearing a point, though grammatically superior to "closing to".

advancing toward

Suggests a proactive movement or progression towards something, often with a sense of purpose or intention.

trending toward

Indicates a general inclination or pattern moving in a particular direction over time.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "closing to" in a sentence?

While "closing to" is frequently used, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "approaching", "nearing", or another suitable phrase that better fits your intended meaning. For example, instead of "The deal is closing to completion", use "The deal is "approaching completion"".

What can I say instead of "closing to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "approaching", "nearing", "moving towards", or other similar phrases. Choose the one that best conveys your intended meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "closing to"?

No, "closing to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. While it might appear in some contexts, it's advisable to use more standard alternatives like "approaching" or "nearing".

How does "closing to" differ from "close to"?

"Close to" implies proximity, either physically or metaphorically, while "closing to" seems to suggest an action of becoming closer, though it's not grammatically standard. It's better to use "close to" when you mean nearby or similar, and alternatives like "approaching" or "nearing" when you want to indicate an ongoing process of becoming closer.