a turning point — decisive moment
collocationC1IELTS 7+neutralcommon
a time when an important change happens, especially one that has a lasting impact on the future direction of a situation, life, or process.
Say it like a native
Textbook That moment constituted a decisive juncture in my career.
Native That was a turning point in my career.
'Decisive juncture' is formal; 'turning point' is the everyday word.
Pattern: a turning point in [something]
In use
- Losing his job was a turning point in his life, leading him to start his own business.daily life
- I believe the turning point in my education was when I changed schools. It completely changed my attitude towards learning and motivated me to work harder.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It was a turning point of my life.
✓ It was a turning point in my life.
'A turning point IN something', not 'of'.
Common collocations
a turning point in— in, marked, reach, a real
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'change' or 'moment', 'a turning point' emphasizes a decisive shift that alters the course of events, not just any change or time.