all but completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but completed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is nearly finished, with only a small part remaining to be done. Example: "The project is all but completed; we just need to finalize the last report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Morsi's speech all but completed Iran's isolation.

The Guardian

In 2001 China had recently all but completed a sweeping privatisation of urban housing.

The Economist

Mr. Foote had all but completed work on adapting those plays at his death.

The New York Times

Over the past five years GMG has all but completed selling off business interests not related to newspaper publishing.

The Guardian

Mr. Lew has all but completed the biggest job he faced, the preparation of Mr. Obama's annual budget request.

The New York Times

President Morsi's speech in Tehran yesterday has "all but completed Iran's isolation", Simon Tisdall writes in the Guardian.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

allowed that at least Ryan was thinking about it, despite Ryan's own all-but-complete rejection of the idea.

Huffington Post

The all-but-complete absence of congressional interest was first documented by National Journal reporter Niraj Chokshi, who tweeted a photo of the hearing.

Huffington Post

Educated at Tsinghua University and the University of California, Zhu - who set up Studio Zhu Pei in 2005 with architects Wu Tong - was the man behind Digital Beijing, the all-but-completed control centre for the 2008 Olympics, as well an origami-like art pavilion in Abu Dhabi that will stand alongside monuments by Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel and Frank Gehry.

The Guardian - Arts

He has just buried his wife, the sudden victim of an undiagnosed aneurysm, and in his grief has interred with her his all-but-completed new novel; the manuscript and disks are in her coffin, and his computer is at the bottom of the river.

The New York Times - Books

The signing of Hitchcock to be the No. 4 starter all but completes the Yankees' off-season work.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but completed" to convey a sense of near completion, implying that only minor tasks or details remain. It's stronger than simply saying something is 'almost complete' because it suggests a higher degree of certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "all but completed" if significant work still needs to be done. This phrase should be reserved for situations where the remaining tasks are minimal and the outcome is virtually assured.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "all but completed" is to act as a modifier, typically describing a noun or noun phrase. It indicates the state of being nearly finished. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples of its application in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all but completed" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something is nearly finished. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, signaling a high degree of completion with only minor tasks remaining. While it's crucial to avoid overstating the degree of completion when using this phrase, its versatility and authoritative sources make it a reliable choice for conveying near-finality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually finished

Emphasizes the near-complete state, focusing on the remaining minimal work.

practically done

Highlights the practical aspect of the completion, suggesting only minor details are left.

nearly complete

Directly indicates the state of being close to completion without extra nuances.

almost finished

Similar to 'nearly complete', focusing on the remaining time or effort.

as good as done

Expresses confidence in the completion, implying a sense of certainty.

tantamount to finished

Positions the current state as equivalent in effect to being finished.

virtually achieved

Highlights the achievement aspect, implying that only the final step is missing.

nearing fruition

Suggests that the final result is close to becoming a reality, often used for long-term projects.

on the verge of completion

Emphasizes the imminence of completion, focusing on the proximity to the end.

in the home stretch

An idiomatic expression indicating the final phase of a project or task.

FAQs

How can I use "all but completed" in a sentence?

Use "all but completed" to indicate that something is very close to being finished, with only minor details left to address. For instance, "The construction of the new library is "all but completed"; only the landscaping remains."

What's a good alternative to "all but completed"?

Alternatives include "virtually finished", "practically done", or "nearly complete". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "all but complete" instead of "all but completed"?

While "all but complete" can be grammatically correct in some contexts, "all but completed" is typically used to describe an action or process that has been brought near to its end. "All but complete" might describe a static condition instead.

What's the difference between "almost completed" and "all but completed"?

Both phrases suggest a high degree of completion, but "all but completed" often implies a greater sense of certainty or inevitability about the final outcome compared to "almost completed".