culminating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "culminating" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the final or highest point of something, often in a process or series of events. Example: "The project is culminating in a grand presentation that showcases all our hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whenever the topic of the vast – and constantly expanding – wealth gap comes up for debate, it seems as if someone is always itching for the opportunity to resurrect those words, culminating in Fitzgerald's observation that the wealthy "think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are".

The Guardian - Money

Charles Kennedy became leader in 1999 and led the party to new highs in votes and seats in successive general elections, culminating in the Lib Dems' highest ever total of Commons seats, 62, in 2005.

The Guardian - Opinion

After six months of farcical misunderstandings, culminating in an unexpected funeral, Ken and Lorna belatedly realise that Oskar has taught them a thing or two about life, love and the cosmic amorality of an uncaring universe.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

David Sims, a Cairo-based urban planner, has spent years cataloguing the failures of Egypt's satellite cities, culminating in last week's well-timed publication of his latest book – Egypt's Desert Dreams: Development or Disaster?

The Guardian

The second is the catharsis unleashed in a series of bloody events, culminating in Django's massacre of the owner's entire household and the kneecapping of a loyal black servant – an "Uncle Tom" – whom we have been invited especially to dislike.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since then, protests have been held throughout the country and have been gaining momentum, culminating in the biggest round of protests against the closures to date, including solidarity protests overseas in New Zealand, the US and Europe.

The Guardian

Since Sisi overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Morsi, last July, there have been several campaigns calling on him to run for office, culminating in hundreds of thousands rallying in his name on the third anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising.

The Guardian

The film begins at Bergen-Belsen, liberated on 15 April 1945, and moves east through Germany and Poland, culminating in short sequences filmed at Auschwitz and Majdanek.

The Guardian - Film

The sequence was enough to land her an MGM contract, and she was offered a few decorative bit parts, culminating in The Bad and the Beautiful.

The Guardian - Film

The thorax was trimmed with fine hairs, culminating in the huge green compound eyes meeting at the top of the head, emeralds seamed with black.

The Guardian

It then moves on 16 years to sunny Bohemia, the sexual awakening of Leontes's and Hermione's long-lost daughter, Perdita, eventually culminating in Leontes's redemption.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "culminating" to signal that a series of events or actions are leading to a significant final point. It adds a sense of progression and importance to the conclusion.

Common error

Avoid using "culminating" if there isn't a discernible buildup or progression of events. Ensure the context provides a clear sense of a process leading to a final outcome.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "culminating" is to act as a present participle, often functioning as part of a verb phrase to describe the final stage of a process. It adds a sense of resolution and significance to the conclusion. Ludwig provides numerous examples of how to use "culminating" effectively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "culminating" is a versatile verb phrase, most commonly used in news, business and scientific contexts, to effectively describe the final stage of a process or event series. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and commonly used. To best utilize "culminating", ensure a clear buildup of events leading to a significant conclusion. While it's generally suitable for formal and neutral registers, consider context to avoid sounding overly formal in casual settings. Effective alternatives include ""reaching its peak"", ""climaxing"", and ""resulting in"", depending on the desired nuance. Remember, avoid using "culminating" when no clear chain of events is present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

culminating point

Highlights the final, decisive moment or event in a series.

climaxing

Implies a high point of excitement or intensity, often in a narrative or performance.

reaching its peak

Emphasizes the highest point of achievement or intensity rather than a sequence of events.

resulting in

Highlights the outcome or consequence of a process or series of events.

coming to a head

Suggests a crisis or critical juncture being reached after a period of buildup.

meeting its zenith

Indicates reaching the highest point or state; implies greater elevation or status.

arriving at a conclusion

Focuses on the act of finishing a process of reasoning or deliberation.

ending up

A more general term for reaching a final state or outcome, without necessarily implying a climax.

finishing with

Emphasizes the act of bringing something to an end, often after a period of activity.

top it off

An informal phrase indicating something serving as the final, often impressive or surprising, element.

FAQs

How can I use "culminating" in a sentence?

"Culminating" is often used to describe the final event in a series or process. For example, "The project involved several stages, "culminating in" a public presentation".

What are some synonyms for "culminating"?

Alternatives to "culminating" include "reaching its peak", "climaxing", or "resulting in", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "culminating point"?

While "culminating" already implies a final point, "culminating point" can be used for emphasis, particularly when you want to stress the significance of the final stage.

What's the difference between "culminating" and "ending"?

"Ending" simply signifies the termination of something. "Culminating", on the other hand, suggests that the end is a significant result or high point of a preceding process. The journey "culminating in" a reward is more evocative than simply ending.