締めくくる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 締めくくる(しめくくる) means bringing an activity or piece of communication to a considered close.
• Basic usage: It is used for closing a gathering with final remarks or a text with its last sentence.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Means and object
  • In 感謝の言葉で会を締めくくった, で marks the words used to close the event, and を marks the event being closed.
• Closing applications and concluding
  • 締め切る(しめきる) is used for closing applications or submissions.
  • 締めくくる focuses on bringing what has been underway to a conclusion.