Partially completed

USAGE SUMMARY

"Partially completed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has been started but not finished. For example, "The project is partially completed and requires further work." Alternative expressions include "incomplete" and "partly finished."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Partially completed stadiums, unfinished parking lots and new bus lanes dot the city.

The New York Times

Partially completed aircraft from Everett, Washington, were flown to Wichita, Kansas, for final outfitting.

Wikipedia

Partially completed surveys (moving away from the web page before pressing 'submit') were not captured.

BMJ Open

Our latest information shows that 13 counties had completely or partially completed their recounts.

The New York Times

In the living room, trunks lay along the walls, filled with completed and partially completed garments.

The New Yorker

In July, Ryan and her tiny team decided it was time to release the partially completed map online.

The New Yorker

Palm Beach County then submitted the results of its partially completed manual recount, which the Secretary refused to accept.

The New York Times

I walked them all around, and we examined a number of partially completed projects.

The New York Times

The second volume was only partially completed when Wheldale Onslow died the following year, presumably in Cambridge.

Encyclopedia Britannica

O'Malley's opponent still marveled at how much he learned about mailings and about "never leaving any task partially completed" during the race.

The Guardian

This constant yo-yo effect contributed to a development cycle in which planned features were partially completed and then dumped numerous times over.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In data science and academic surveys, use this phrase to categorize responses that were submitted without all fields being filled, as seen in many Ludwig examples.

Common error

Avoid using "partially completed" alongside "unfinished" in the same clause, as they are essentially redundant. Instead, choose the one that best fits the formality of your text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partially completed" acts as an adjectival phrase composed of the adverb "partially" modifying the past participle "completed". In Ludwig, it is observed frequently as an attributive adjective or a predicative adjective describing nouns like "surveys", "stadiums" or "projects".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

28%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Informal

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "partially completed" is a robust and essential expression in the English language, particularly within technical and professional domains. Ludwig AI shows it is a high-frequency phrase used by top-tier publications to describe everything from physical infrastructure like "stadiums" to abstract tasks like "manual recounts". Because it is grammatically flawless and provides a precise description of progress, it is highly recommended for use in formal documents, scientific studies and status reports. While more concise words like "incomplete" are available, "partially completed" is often preferred for its descriptive neutrality and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partly finished

Uses a more Germanic adverb, making the tone slightly more casual than the Latinate equivalent.

semi-completed

Uses a prefix to denote partial state, though it is used less frequently in formal writing.

incomplete

A single-word adjective that is more direct but lacks the emphasis on the progress already made.

unfinished

A simple negative descriptor that focuses entirely on the lack of completion.

partially executed

More technical and often used in business or legal contexts regarding plans or orders.

in progress

A prepositional phrase that shifts the focus from the state of the object to the continuity of the action.

half-done

Informal and sometimes carries a negative connotation of lack of effort or care.

nearly completed

Suggests that the object is much closer to the final state than the neutral original phrase.

partly realized

Used more frequently in abstract, artistic or philosophical contexts rather than physical tasks.

works in progress

A noun phrase that categorizes the object rather than describing its current state.

FAQs

How do I use "partially completed" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe status, such as: "The team submitted a partially completed report because the deadline arrived unexpectedly."

What can I say instead of "partially completed"?

You can use alternatives like "partly finished", "incomplete", or "unfinished" depending on the context.

Is "partially completed" formal?

Yes, it is very formal and is the standard way to describe ongoing work in "scientific papers" and "business reports".

What's the difference between "partially completed" and "nearly completed"?

While both describe incomplete work, "nearly completed" implies that the end is very close, whereas "partially completed" is more neutral about how much is left.