contract was ending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contract was ending" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the conclusion or expiration of a contract in a business or legal context. Example: "As the contract was ending, we began negotiations for a new agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

My contract was ending in April anyway," she said.

The Guardian

And while it had been assumed by many of the other competitors for the "Meet the Press" post that Mr. Gregory's contract was ending soon, making a jump to another network a real threat, that is not the case.

The New York Times

Orr's contract was ending after the season, potentially making him a free agent.

Wikipedia

Coulibaly, whose contract was ending soon, said he would tell the president about his professional life and his job.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

His contract was ended in July 2013 and he was not given a pay-off.

Independent

Mr Lee says that his contract was ended nine years prematurely without good reason.PLA has suspended its operations and is hurriedly filing an appeal with the supreme court.

The Economist

The contractors' primary defense was that the government caused the delay by not sharing information with them, and they insist they should be paid for work done before the contract was ended.

The New York Times

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is investigating concerns raised by the charity's former chief executive, whose contract was ended days after he complained of "governance and financing" irregularities at the organisation.

The Guardian

Shortly after the contract was ended the firm went into administration.

BBC

This had left the authority out of pocket and the contract was ended.

BBC

"It was clear he had no future at the club under Ally McCoist and his contract was ended by mutual agreement".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "contract was ending", clearly state any subsequent actions, such as renewal negotiations or termination procedures, to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "contract was ending" when you mean "contract was ended". The former describes a state in progress, while the latter describes a completed action. For example, "The contract was ending soon" versus "The contract was ended prematurely."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contract was ending" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, often serving as a temporal marker indicating a specific point when a contract's conclusion was approaching. Ludwig examples show its use in news and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contract was ending" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase indicating that a contractual agreement was in the process of concluding. Ludwig AI confirms that is suited for news and media, wiki and formal business contexts and is a suitable phrase for a variety of situations. When using this phrase, clarity regarding subsequent actions is helpful. Common alternatives include "contract was expiring" or "contract was terminating" for similar meanings. Ensure not to confuse it with "contract was ended" to properly convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contract was expiring

Focuses on the natural expiration of the contract term.

contract was terminating

Emphasizes the act of bringing the contract to a close, often before its natural end.

contract was concluding

Highlights the final stage or completion of the contract.

contract's term was ending

Specifically mentions the term or duration of the contract.

contract was coming to a close

Uses a more idiomatic expression to describe the contract's end.

contract was drawing to a close

Similar to 'coming to a close', but suggests a gradual nearing of the end.

contract was ceasing

Focuses on the contract stopping or discontinuing.

contract was winding down

Implies a gradual reduction of activities before the contract's end.

contract was lapsing

Suggests the contract became invalid through neglect or failure to renew.

contract was not being renewed

Emphasizes the decision not to extend the contract's duration.

FAQs

What is the difference between "contract was ending" and "contract ended"?

"Contract was ending" implies an ongoing process leading to the end of the agreement. "Contract ended" means the contract's term has fully concluded. The first indicates a state of transition, the second, a finished event.

What can I say instead of "contract was ending"?

You can use phrases like "contract was expiring", "contract was terminating", or "contract was concluding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "contract is ending" instead of "contract was ending"?

The correct tense depends on the time frame you are referencing. Use "contract is ending" to describe a contract currently nearing its end. Use "contract was ending" to describe a contract that was in the process of ending at a specific point in the past.

How to use "contract was ending" in a sentence?

You might say, "As the "contract was ending", we began to discuss renewal terms" or "The project manager knew the "contract was ending" in December, so she started preparing the final report".