Emphasising that a date is near

Question

What is a good way to emphasise that a particular date is near or coming very close? For example, suppose today is the 22 of May and there is the submission date for a project is on the 25 of May. I could just say:

As the deadline of the submission is on the 25 of May, we should work faster.

The date 25 of May is near to some people but may not be near to others. If I add in the word "near" this way:

As the deadline of the submission is near on the 25 of May, we should work faster.

Would my last sentence be grammatically and semantically correct?

I hope this is only an example and you do not believe that a deadline can be reached by working faster. — John Smithers, May 22 '12 at 07:48
Yes, this is an example. Perhaps trying an alternative method would be a better way to reach a deadline. — xenon, May 22 '12 at 07:57

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered May 22 '12 at 14:38

6

When I'm trying to motivate people to pay attention to things like this I usually say that the deadline is looming. It conveys a sense of impending danger; other things that often loom are storms, battles, and obstacles.

You could also say that the deadline is imminent or fast approaching.

answered May 22 '12 at 14:38

Monica Cellio

18,063

Thanks! I really like the way you put it as looming. Thank you so much! +1!! – xenon May 22 '12 at 17:30

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 22 '12 at 08:19

I would probably put something like:

As the deadline for the submission is approaching rapidly, 
we should do without eating and sleeping until then.

The distinction of "approaching rapidly" has a sense of urgency about it, and not specifying the deadline means that people who subconsciously ignore it until it is actually May 25th do not have that option.

And not eating or sleeping for 3 days is probably not the answer to hitting a deadline. Just dead.

Emphasising that a date is near

2 Answers2