near to term

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "near to term" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used in contexts related to pregnancy or project timelines, indicating that something is approaching its conclusion or due date. Example: "The project is near to term, and we need to finalize the details soon."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Nevertheless, we have documented improved EEG activity in FNI infants compared with SC infants at near to term [ 25], which supports that FNI may indeed be associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.

BMC Pediatrics

But stop calling abortion murder, stop calling 12-week-old fetuses the size of a finger "babies," stop lying about how many abortions are performed on fetuses that are near to term, stop showing pictures of fully formed babies on your billboards.

Huffington Post

As the children were born at or near to term and birth size measures were adjusted for gestational age, the findings are not the result of prematurity.

Plosone

Creatine kinase expression also increases in the rat placenta during pregnancy, when its decrease near to term is thought to signal placental senescence [ 103], but whether this also occurs in the human placenta is not known.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

These studies will recruit relatively few women with pre-eclampsia, however, and will not provide evidence on the effects of exposure nearer to term.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

We expect headline revenue growth to remain challenging at least in the near to medium term.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Miller said he did not expect much to happen for the near to medium term.

The New York Times

We think it is ripe for being acquired over the near to medium term.

The New York Times

Balderton's Myer is also cool on VR in the near to medium term.

TechCrunch

The systems design relies on near-to-medium term technology.

Acta Astronautica

On 13 times consensus 2016 PE, Sainsbury's share price already reflects downside risk to near term earnings.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing stages of pregnancy, consider using "close to term" or "nearing term" as more common and readily understood alternatives to "near to term".

Common error

Avoid using "near to term" when discussing deadlines or timeframes in general business or project management. Opt for phrases like "in the short term" or "approaching the deadline" for better clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "near to term" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying nouns to indicate proximity to the end of a defined period, such as a pregnancy or a project timeline. Ludwig indicates that it is less common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "near to term" is an acceptable but somewhat uncommon prepositional phrase that primarily indicates proximity to a specific endpoint, most often related to pregnancy. Ludwig suggests that it is more appropriate for scientific or medical contexts, and less suitable for general or informal use. Alternatives like "close to term" or "approaching the deadline" may offer better clarity and impact in various situations. While grammatically correct, its relative infrequency warrants careful consideration of context and audience to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close to delivery

Specifically used in the context of pregnancy, indicating imminent birth.

close to the deadline

Emphasizes the proximity to a deadline, using a more direct and common phrasing.

in the final trimester

Another pregnancy-related phrase, specifying the last three months.

approaching the end

Focuses on the nearing conclusion of a process or period.

nearing completion

Highlights that something is almost finished or finalized.

in the final stages

Indicates being in the last steps of a process or project.

in the short run

Focuses on the immediate future, similar to "near term" in some business contexts.

drawing to a close

A more literary way of saying that something is ending soon.

almost due

Specifically refers to deadlines or expected arrival times.

in the home stretch

An informal expression meaning the last part of a race or task.

FAQs

What does "near to term" mean in the context of pregnancy?

In the context of pregnancy, "near to term" means that the pregnancy is approaching its due date or the expected date of delivery. It indicates the final weeks or days before childbirth.

Is it better to say "near to term" or "close to term"?

"Close to term" is generally preferred over "near to term" as it is more commonly used and sounds more natural in contemporary English. Both phrases convey the same meaning, but "close to term" is the more idiomatic choice.

What are some alternative phrases for "near to term" in project management?

In project management, instead of "near to term", you can use phrases like "approaching the deadline", "in the final stages", or "nearing completion". These are more common and clearer in professional settings.

How can I use "near to term" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "near to term" to describe a pregnancy that is almost at its end, for example: "The infant's EEG activity improved when "near to term"." Avoid using it in general contexts where "short-term" or "soon" would be more appropriate.