almost finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost finished" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is nearly complete but not quite done yet. Example: "I am almost finished with my report and just need to add a few final touches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He's almost finished.

The New Yorker

Your movie is almost finished.

The New York Times

We were almost finished.

The Washington Post

Almost finished, almost ended – huh?

Princeton University

It is almost finished.

The Guardian - Books

Novick was almost finished.

The New Yorker

I'm almost finished.

The New York Times - Arts

Already she'd almost finished her wine.

The New Yorker

He's already almost finished it.

The Guardian - Music

But Constantinople was almost finished.

The Guardian - Books

I see that it's almost finished.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost finished" to indicate that a task or project is very close to completion, but still requires a final step or check. For instance, "The report is almost finished; I just need to proofread it."

Common error

Avoid simply stating something is "almost finished" without giving any indication of the remaining work or expected completion time. Be specific: instead of saying "The project is almost finished", say "The project is almost finished; we expect to launch it by next week."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost finished" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of near-completion. It describes the status of something that is nearing its final stage. As per Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost finished" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something nearing completion. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is used frequently across news, media, and academic contexts, indicating its broad applicability and neutral register. When using this phrase, it's important to provide adequate context to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "nearly complete" or "virtually done" for variety, and always aim to specify the remaining steps or expected completion timeframe. In summary, "almost finished" is a versatile and effective phrase when used thoughtfully and with appropriate context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly complete

Emphasizes completion from another perspective, by using a different adjective instead of 'finished'.

virtually done

Focuses on being practically completed, using 'virtually' to indicate a close state.

close to completion

Highlights the proximity to the final stage, focusing on the 'completion' aspect.

on the verge of completion

Suggests an imminent completion, adding a sense of anticipation.

nearing completion

Similar to "almost finished" but places more emphasis on the movement towards completion.

in the final stages

Indicates progress and placement within the concluding phase of a process or project.

practically finished

Similar to "virtually done", indicates that something is nearly completed.

drawing to a close

More metaphorical, suggests a gradual end to something.

about to conclude

Highlights that something is on the point of ending.

reaching the end

Focuses on the end point, emphasizing the progress made.

FAQs

What does "almost finished" mean?

"Almost finished" means something is nearing completion but is not entirely complete yet. It implies that only a small amount of work remains.

What are some alternatives to "almost finished"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly complete", "virtually done", or "close to completion" depending on the context.

How to use "almost finished" in a sentence?

You can say, "I am "almost finished" with my work" or "The building is "almost finished"; only the interior remains to be completed".

Is it correct to say "mostly finished" instead of "almost finished"?

Yes, "mostly finished" is also correct and conveys a similar meaning. However, "almost finished" often implies a higher degree of completion than "mostly finished".