an unfinished document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unfinished document" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a document that has not been completed or finalized. Example: "Please make sure to save your work frequently, as we are currently working on an unfinished document that requires further editing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I see this almost as an unfinished document," she said about their study.

The New York Times

Mr. Zervakos said his company had several safeguards against early posting and that employees were trained to look for signs of an unfinished document and personal information, like Social Security numbers or home addresses, that is sometimes inadvertently included.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The resulting film is raw, powerful and confusing -- less a polished documentary than a living, unfinished document of a complicated war and the complicated young men who are fighting it.

The New York Times

As in the original 'Prigioni' the classic figures are left unfinished, documenting the very history of their creation and transformation".

Vice

McCarthy's entire writing career, from his debut The Orchard Keeper to an unfinished novel The Passenger, is meticulously documented in a new archive that goes on display today in a Texas university.

The Guardian - Books

The idea is that those newly-empowered citizen activists will document on-the-ground examples of government failing to do its job -- say, by taking pictures of an unfinished school or underequipped clinic.

Huffington Post

Melvin, an economist with an unfinished doctoral dissertation on North Korea's monetary system, verifies landmarks he finds on Google Earth by studying maps and documents and by sitting down in front of his computer in Virginia with North Koreans.

Huffington Post

"She's an unfinished person".

The New York Times

Kids love an unfinished map.

The New York Times - Books

Also research pertaining to an unfinished book.

Cornell University

But that is an unfinished revolution.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "an unfinished document", clarify what specific parts are incomplete or require further attention to provide context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "an unfinished document" in contexts where it might suggest the document lacks credibility. Instead, provide a clear explanation of the document's current status and the steps being taken to finalize it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unfinished document" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unfinished" modifies the noun "document". This indicates the state of the document being incomplete. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an unfinished document" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a document that is not yet complete. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most frequently encountered in news media and academic contexts. While not overly common, its meaning is clear. For more formal settings, alternatives like "draft document" or "incomplete document" may be suitable. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what specific aspects of the document remain incomplete to provide useful context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a draft document

Focuses on the preliminary nature of the document, implying it is subject to change.

an incomplete document

Emphasizes the lack of all necessary parts or information.

a work in progress

Highlights the ongoing effort and development of the document.

a preliminary report

Suggests the document is an early version intended to provide initial information.

an unfinalized document

Directly indicates the document has not yet reached its final form.

a developing document

Highlights the ongoing creation and evolution of the document.

a partial document

Implies only a portion of the intended document exists.

an uncompleted record

Focuses on the aspect of record-keeping and its unfinished state.

a document under construction

Uses a more metaphorical expression to describe the document's ongoing creation.

a raw document

Emphasizes the unrefined and unprocessed state of the document.

FAQs

How can I use "an unfinished document" in a sentence?

You can use "an unfinished document" to describe something that is still in progress. For example: "The researcher described the paper as "an unfinished document", noting that further analysis was required."

What's a more formal way to say "an unfinished document"?

More formal alternatives include "a preliminary report", "a draft document", or "an incomplete document", depending on the specific context and stage of completion.

What is the difference between "an unfinished document" and "a draft document"?

"A draft document" generally implies a version that is largely complete but still subject to revisions and edits. "An unfinished document" suggests that significant portions are still missing or incomplete.

Is it appropriate to share "an unfinished document" with stakeholders?

Sharing "an unfinished document" can be appropriate if stakeholders need to provide early feedback, but it's important to clearly label it as such to avoid misunderstandings about its finality.