Word Usage
Mary W. Ng
June 26, 2009
turn of the century, turning of the century
The phrase the turn of the century means “the time when one century ends and another begins”. The turning of the century is unidiomatic.
| Incorrect: | These men mapped and explored over a million square miles of western Canada at the turning of the century. |
| Correct: | These men mapped and explored over a million square miles of western Canada at the turn of the century. |