anything but complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anything but complete" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, object, or concept that is lacking or not fully finished. Example: "The report was anything but complete, missing several key sections and data points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC.

Independent

Others say China has created such a vacuum in commodities supplies that anything but complete stagnation in China's economy would do little to ease emerging shortages.

The New York Times

"Everyone understands that if you are going after a legitimate target there may be collateral damage, and no one in my platoon had anything but complete remorse when a noncombatant was killed".

The New Yorker

It is clear that our work is anything but complete.

Huffington Post

When factors do finally align and you find yourself stood on a verge, confronted by a colossal swirling black supercell lit up by a hundred thousand flickering lightning flashes, it's difficult to feel anything but complete awe.

Vice

When factors finally aligned and I found myself on the verge, confronted by colossal swirling black supercell lit up by a hundred thousand flickering lightning flashes, it was difficult to feel anything but complete awe.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Our study underlines that the biodiversity assessment, particularly of species adapted to cold environments, is anything but completed as shown from remote and unexplored European landscapes such as the Tatra Mountains.

Protist

"They will not accept anything but a complete regime change".

The New York Times

"It's easy to be pure and say, as many environmentalists do, that we won't accept anything but a complete end to whaling," Ms. Lieberman said.

The New York Times

"The idea that Christopher [Pyne] could suggest this is anything but a complete repudiation of the agenda set by Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey and then Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison is extreme".

The Guardian

Speaking to a group of American Jewish leaders who walk in ideological lockstep with Bibi, the Israeli prime minister declared, once again, his strident opposition to anything but a complete end to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anything but complete" to strongly emphasize that something is far from finished or lacks essential elements. This phrase adds more force than simply saying "incomplete."

Common error

Avoid using "anything but complete" when a neutral description of incompleteness is sufficient. This phrase is emphatic and should be reserved for situations where you want to highlight a significant deficiency. In cases of mere incompleteness, consider more neutral language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anything but complete" functions as an emphatic adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or concept, indicating that it possesses the opposite quality of being complete. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to highlight a significant deficiency or lack of fulfillment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anything but complete" is a versatile and emphatic expression used to highlight a significant lack of completion or a notable deficiency. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal writing. While "incomplete" serves as a more neutral alternative, "anything but complete" offers a stronger emphasis. When writing, use this phrase when you want to emphatically convey that something is far from finished or lacking in essential elements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far from complete

Emphasizes the distance from being complete.

not at all complete

Highlights the absence of completeness.

nowhere near complete

Suggests a significant lack of completion.

hardly complete

Indicates a minimal level of completeness.

anything but finished

Replaces 'complete' with 'finished', keeping the core meaning.

a far cry from complete

Idiomatic expression emphasizing the difference from being complete.

not even close to complete

Emphasizes a large gap from being complete.

incomplete

A simpler, direct synonym for not complete.

lacking completion

Highlights the absence of completion.

deficient in completeness

Formal way of saying something lacks completeness.

FAQs

How can I use "anything but complete" in a sentence?

You can use "anything but complete" to emphasize that something is far from finished or lacks essential elements. For example, "The investigation was "anything but complete", leaving many questions unanswered".

What are some alternatives to "anything but complete"?

Alternatives include "far from complete", "not at all complete", or simply "incomplete", depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "anything but complete" formal or informal?

"Anything but complete" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more common in news and media or general writing. It adds emphasis, so consider your audience and the tone you want to convey.

What is the difference between "anything but complete" and "incomplete"?

"Incomplete" is a straightforward description of something not being finished. "Anything but complete" is a stronger, more emphatic way of saying that something is significantly lacking or far from being finished. The latter emphasizes the degree of incompleteness.