deadline towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deadline towards" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, and it may confuse readers regarding the intended message about deadlines. Example: "We need to set a deadline towards the completion of the project." (This should be rephrased for clarity.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Accounting firm KPMG was ordered to investigate the Shane Warne Foundation by Consumer Affairs Victoria, after the charity failed to lodge key financial documents by a deadline towards the end of 2015.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

(And, to look at him, you'd think butter wouldn't melt!) - When faced with a blank page, no subject and a deadline heading towards you like an oncoming train, panic, then call in sick.

Independent

With less than two years until the 2015 Millennium Development Goals' (MDG) deadline, progress towards the achievement of the global targets presents a mixed picture.

Globalization and Health

With deadlines approaching towards the end of the day, reporters from the Times and Post, returned again, along with Cruz.

Huffington Post

They are now eighth, back in the top half of the table for the first time since the summer transfer window was ticking towards deadline, and only five points off Manchester United in fifth place.

The Guardian - Sport

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, representing Mrs Brooks, also highlighted other calls made around the time and said they were what anyone would expect from an editor who was away as their paper headed towards deadline.

BBC

Developers wanting to target the platform have so far depended upon using a virtual simulation of the wearable, and haven't had any set deadline to work towards, so an announced April shipping target provides a clear goal to aim for.

TechCrunch

So you're expecting a flurry of activity towards the deadline?

The Guardian

Britain is coming under pressure to make concessions as the negotiations move towards the deadline in mid-June.

The Guardian

The federal government is working towards a deadline of the 2016 election to develop a tax package to present to voters.

The Guardian

At that point, US secretary of state John Kerry hinted that negotiations could be heading towards a deadline, noting that the talks were not an "interminable process".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "deadline towards", opt for more grammatically correct and commonly used alternatives such as "deadline for" or "deadline by" to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "towards" with "deadline". The preposition "towards" typically indicates a direction or general inclination, whereas deadlines require specific prepositions like "for" (indicating purpose) or "by" (indicating the latest time).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deadline towards" is intended to function as a prepositional phrase indicating a target date. However, Ludwig AI points out that this is not the proper usage. The intended function is to express movement towards a specific time, yet this intention fails due to ungrammaticality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deadline towards" is considered grammatically incorrect and is rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that it is not correct usage, and more appropriate alternatives such as "deadline for" or "deadline by" should be used instead. While sources like The Guardian and BBC have used the phrase, the overall consensus suggests that it should be avoided in both formal and informal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Opt for more precise and commonly accepted alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deadline approaching

Focuses on the deadline as actively nearing, emphasizing its imminent arrival.

working towards a deadline

Highlights the action of progressing in effort leading to the specific target date.

deadline for

Uses "for" to specify the purpose or goal associated with the deadline.

deadline by

Specifies the latest possible time or date for completion.

heading towards the deadline

Emphasizes movement or progression in time nearing the deadline.

deadline is near

A simpler phrasing that indicates the proximity of the deadline.

close to the deadline

Highlights the state of being in proximity to the target date.

time until the deadline

Emphasizes the limited duration until the deadline.

nearing the deadline

Uses the verb "nearing" to indicate the process of approaching the deadline.

progressing towards the deadline

Highlights advancement of task towards the date.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "deadline towards"?

More appropriate alternatives include "deadline for", "deadline by", or "approaching deadline" depending on the specific context.

Is "deadline towards" grammatically correct?

No, "deadline towards" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "deadline for" or "deadline by".

How can I use the concept of approaching a deadline in a sentence correctly?

You can say "The "deadline is approaching"", "We are "working towards a deadline"", or "The deadline is "drawing near"".

Why is "deadline towards" not a preferred phrase?

The phrase "deadline towards" is awkward and not commonly used. Standard English prefers more precise prepositions like "for" or "by" to specify the purpose or limit of a deadline.