come to a close

USAGE SUMMARY

"come to a close" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used as a way of saying "end" or "finish" at the end of an event, period of time, or discussion. For example, you could say, "The meeting came to a close at 5:00 PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Sotomayor hearings come to a close.

The New Yorker

Our conversation has come to a close.

The Guardian - Music

A remarkable, unparalleled chapter has come to a close.

Independent

Alas, our time together has come to a close.

The New Yorker

Has our long national parenthesis finally come to a close -- or at least begun to come to a close?

The New York Times - Magazine

But like most good things in life, this internship too must come to a close.

Columbia University

Other chapters will not come to a close, at least not quickly and neatly.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

St Denis operation coming to a close.

Independent

So, another season comes to a close.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The series comes to a close.

The New York Times - Arts

CS221 is coming to a close.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come to a close" when you want to indicate a formal or natural conclusion to an event, period, or process. For example, "The conference came to a close after three days of discussions."

Common error

While "come to a close" is appropriate in many situations, avoid using it in very casual conversations. Simpler alternatives like "ended" or "finished" are often more suitable for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to a close" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase indicating the termination or conclusion of an event, period, or process. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come to a close" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to signify the end of something. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage, noting its frequent appearance in various contexts. It is primarily found in news and media, academia, and wiki sources. While "come to a close" serves as an effective way to indicate completion, remember to consider alternatives such as "conclude" or "come to an end" depending on the desired level of formality and precision. As with any phrase, context is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to an end

A more general term indicating cessation, less specific than "close".

conclude

A direct synonym that can replace "come to a close" in many contexts.

draw to a conclusion

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the process of reaching an end.

be over

A simple and direct way of saying something has ended.

reach its conclusion

This emphasizes the attainment of a final point or resolution.

be brought to a conclusion

This suggests an external force causing the ending.

wrap up

A more informal way to describe finishing something.

terminate

This is a formal term implying a definite ending.

finish up

Similar to "wrap up", but slightly less formal.

cease

A formal term indicating the termination of an action or state.

FAQs

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

The phrase "come to a close" is used to indicate the end of something. For example, "The negotiations finally came to a close after months of discussions."

What can I say instead of "come to a close"?

You can use alternatives like "come to an end", "draw to a conclusion", or simply "conclude" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "come to a close" in formal writing?

While generally suitable for formal writing, consider your audience. In highly technical or academic contexts, more precise terms might be preferable, but it remains a grammatically correct option.

What's the difference between "come to a close" and "come to an end"?

Both phrases are very similar. "Come to a close" often implies a more structured or organized conclusion, whereas "come to an end" is a more general term for something ceasing.