are approaching completion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are approaching completion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is nearing its final stages or is almost finished. Example: "The construction of the new library is progressing well, and we are approaching completion ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

From another perspective, this is the moment for the feast before the famine: the impending deadline means that a surge of projects are approaching completion.

The New York Times

In the United Kingdom the minimum standards of Advanced Maternity Care (AMC) are approaching completion.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Genome projects are approaching completion and are saturating sequence databases.

Biological Procedures Online

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The project was approaching completion when the recession hit, and new ventures like the luxury condos at the Marriott/Ritz-Carlton have struggled.

The New Yorker

To the distress of many local residents a 20-story, 300-unit rental apartment tower is approaching completion on the southeast corner of the grounds.

The New York Times - Arts

Page A15 RESULTS OF MELTDOWN STUDY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is approaching completion of an ambitious study that concludes that a meltdown at a typical American reactor would lead to far fewer deaths than previously assumed.

The New York Times

The proposed takeover of Leeds United is approaching completion, according to chairman and owner Ken Bates.

BBC

The first part is approaching completion and will be the subject of later papers.

World Renewable Energy Congress VI Renewables: The Energy for the 21st Century World Renewable Energy Congress VI 1–7 July 2000 Brighton, UK

The ATLAS Semiconductor Tracker (SCT) is approaching completion at CERN, and will be ready to take data at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the end of 2007.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Bates confirmed the takeover was approaching completion in October and GFH has been supporting Leeds financially since entering into an exclusivity period to conclude negotiations about its proposed investment.

BBC

Construction began at Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne soon after the ship was ordered in November 1911, and was approaching completion when she was bought by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy for use in the First World War.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience when using this phrase; while generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "are nearing completion" or "are drawing to a close".

Common error

Avoid using "is approaching completion" when referring to plural subjects. For singular subjects, use "is approaching completion" instead. For example, "The project is approaching completion."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are approaching completion" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something is nearing its final state. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correctness and usability. This phrase often acts as a predicate in a sentence, describing the state of the subject.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science & Research

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are approaching completion" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's utilized to denote that something is in its final stages. While generally neutral in register, more formal settings might benefit from alternatives. The phrase appears across various contexts, including news, science, and general descriptions. Remember to ensure subject-verb agreement when using this phrase, and consider the context to choose the most appropriate wording. Ludwig offers several examples to illustrate its usage, helping writers employ it effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are nearing completion

Uses 'nearing' instead of 'approaching', offering a slight variation in wording but maintaining the same meaning.

are on the verge of completion

Highlights the imminence of completion, suggesting that it will happen very soon.

are drawing to a close

Employs a more figurative expression suggesting the end is near, with a slightly less literal meaning.

are almost complete

Uses simpler vocabulary to express the same idea, suitable for more informal contexts.

are reaching finalization

A more formal way of saying completion is near.

are nearing their end

Focuses on the 'end' rather than 'completion', shifting the emphasis slightly but keeping the core idea intact.

are in the final stages

Shifts the focus to the process, rather than the end result, indicating that the last steps are being taken.

are about to be finished

Emphasizes the anticipation of completion, suggesting it will happen in the immediate future.

are wrapping up

An informal way to say something is finishing soon.

are coming to fruition

Implies that something is developing and reaching its intended outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "are approaching completion" in a sentence?

You can use "are approaching completion" to describe something that is nearing its finished state. For example, "The renovations to the building "are approaching completion", and we expect to open soon."

What is a more formal alternative to "are approaching completion"?

A more formal alternative could be "are nearing completion" or "are drawing to a close", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is approaching completion" instead of "are approaching completion"?

No, it's not correct if you're referring to a plural subject. "Is approaching completion" should be used with singular subjects, while "are approaching completion" is used with plural subjects.

What does "are approaching completion" imply?

The phrase "are approaching completion" implies that something is in its final stages and is expected to be finished soon. It indicates that the end of a process or project is near.