Meaning & use
a positive note
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseapproving
A good, hopeful, or encouraging point or ending, especially in a situation that is mostly bad or serious.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase, often after 'on' in phrases like 'end on a positive note'.
Patterns
- end on a positive note
- finish on a positive note
- a positive note in something
The meeting was difficult, but it ended on a positive note when everyone agreed to try again.
She tried to find a positive note in the bad news.
Common combinations
- end on a positive note
- The concert ended on a positive note with a happy song.
- finish on a positive note
- He wanted to finish his speech on a positive note.
- a positive note in the report
- There was a positive note in the report: sales had improved.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bright spot
- A bright spot is a good feature in a bad situation; a positive note is similar but often refers to how something ends.
- silver lining
- A silver lining is a hopeful aspect of a bad situation; a positive note is more general and can refer to an ending.
Opposites
Word family
- positively adverb
- In a positive way; often used to describe attitude or response.
Commonly confused: a positive note or positive note?
a positive note vs positive note
In music, a 'note' is a sound; in this phrase, 'note' means a point or quality, not a musical sound.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'a positive note' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'On a positive note' means ending in a good way. The piano option uses 'note' in the musical sense, which is not the same phrase; the other options confuse the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a positive note”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.