towards the ends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "towards the ends" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a direction or focus that is moving in the direction of the ends of something, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "As we approach the final stages of the project, we need to concentrate our efforts towards the ends to ensure a successful completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fred Titmus and John Emburey both played similar roles towards the ends of their own careers.

The Guardian - Sport

Interns towards the ends of their shifts made 36% more serious errors.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sam Merlotte, the owner of Bon Temps' most jumping nightspot, gets interesting towards the ends of the series (I won't spoil it if you're watching for the first time on Channel 4), but he's not why you're recording the show.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

First, we need to spot any infected trees: by looking for a distinctive blackish-brown tinge towards the ends of the leaves, or lesions on dead or dying shoots.

The Guardian

A plastic load regime started to develop towards the ends of both tests, notably for the unreinforced beam.

Applied Adhesion Science

All three histograms show distinct minima near the zero tilt, two local maxima around |Ψ GSM|∼15°, and gradual decreases towards the ends of the tilt angle range.

Earth, Planets and Space

They move towards the ends of tunnels, excavate when their progress in that direction is blocked, and transport the excavated soil.

Ecological Informatics

The stress concentration towards the ends of a bonded lap joint depends to some extent on the relative stiffnesses of the adherend and the adhesive used.

International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives

The second criterion is necessary because channels generated using steps (i-vi) of the algorithm often have very similar centerlines that only deviate towards the ends of the channels near the molecular surface.

Journal of Cheminformatics

This is seen to be initiated by a significant rise of the thermal stress in the web members located within the high-shear zones towards the ends of the truss.

Engineering Structures

In view of this it appears that we could obtain a more economical strut by designing it so that the maximum stress on all sections is the same, by tapering the strut towards the ends.

The Strength of Materials A Treatise on the Theory of Stress Calculations for Engineers

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "towards the ends", ensure the context clearly defines what 'ends' refers to, whether it's a physical object, a time period, or an abstract concept.

Common error

Avoid using "towards the ends" when the concept of 'ends' is too vague or undefined. This can lead to confusion. Be more specific in such scenarios. For instance, instead of saying "efforts towards the ends", clarify what ends are being pursued.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "towards the ends" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate direction, movement, or focus in proximity to the terminal point or extremities. As Ludwig AI suggests, its usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "towards the ends" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates direction, movement, or focus in relation to a conclusion, extremity, or boundary. As Ludwig AI explains, it enjoys broad applicability across scientific, news, and general writing contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the 'ends' are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity, and alternative phrases like "near the conclusion" or "in the final stretch" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

toward the terminal points

This alternative is a more literal and descriptive way of expressing the same concept.

near the conclusion

This alternative focuses on the temporal aspect of approaching a final point rather than the spatial or directional sense of "ends".

approaching the extremities

Focuses on reaching the outer boundaries or furthest points.

as it concludes

Highlights a sense of culmination or resolution, shifting the focus from direction to an event's termination.

in the last stages

Focuses on the lateness in a process, without necessarily referring to a physical end.

as it nears completion

Emphasizes approaching the finished state of a process or project.

close to the limit

Focuses on approaching a boundary or maximum value, often in a quantitative or abstract sense.

in the final stretch

An idiomatic expression indicating the last phase of an activity or project.

at the tail end

Indicates the concluding part of something, often with a connotation of being less significant.

drawing to a close

Emphasizes the process of something ending, rather than a specific location.

FAQs

How can I use "towards the ends" in a sentence?

You can use "towards the ends" to describe a direction or focus near the terminal point of something, such as "The funding was directed towards the ends of the project" or "The leaves showed discoloration towards the ends".

What are some alternatives to "towards the ends"?

Alternatives include "near the conclusion", "in the final stretch", or "approaching the extremities", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "toward the ends" instead of "towards the ends"?

Both "toward the ends" and "towards the ends" are grammatically correct, with "towards" being more common in British English and "toward" in American English. They are generally interchangeable.

In what contexts is "towards the ends" most commonly used?

The phrase is frequently used in scientific, news, and general contexts to indicate movement or focus on the concluding portions or extremities of something. Examples can be found in scientific papers, news articles, and general writing.