attempting to complete the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempting to complete the" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an effort or endeavor to finish a task or project. Example: "She is attempting to complete the final report before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Currently, 20 teams are attempting to complete the qualifying obstacle course here.

The New York Times

It has even managed to produced its own mass gaming phenomenon, Twitch Plays Pokemon, which had many thousands of viewers attempting to complete the original Pokemon game through the text chat interface.

The Guardian - Tech

Arsenal are still attempting to complete the signing of Gonzalo Higuaín from Real Madrid and any offer for Suárez could be seen as an attempt to pressurise the Spanish side into finalising the deal.

The Guardian - Sport

The Australian Bureau of Statistics shut down the census website on Tuesday night after hundreds of thousands of people attempting to complete the five-yearly snapshot received error messages.

The Guardian

In most situations and plays it is safe to assume that the player, unless clearly out of place/position, is at least attempting to complete the proper assignment for the given play.

The New York Times

The Heidelberg Catechism was prepared as part of a reform program directed by Elector Frederick III the Pious, who was attempting to complete the religious reformation of the Palatinate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

San Jose will attempt to complete the first series sweep in franchise history at home on Tuesday.

The Guardian - Sport

Nearly 600,000 people have attempted to complete the puzzle since its release in early December.

The Guardian

In December he will attempt to complete the set by tackling Antarctica's Vinson Massif.

Independent

San Jose will attempt to complete the first series sweep in franchise history at home on Tuesday night.

The New York Times - Sports

I think it's because there's something really vulnerable…" She prods at the plate with her fork as she attempts to complete the sentence.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attempting to complete the" when the outcome is uncertain. If the task is already finished, use a different phrasing, such as "completed the".

Common error

Avoid using "attempting to complete the" when the successful completion of the task is a foregone conclusion. For instance, avoid saying "The machine is attempting to complete the process" if the process is routine and always successful. Instead, use "The machine is completing the process".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempting to complete the" functions as a gerund phrase. It typically serves as part of a larger verb phrase, describing an action that someone is currently undertaking. It indicates an effort to finalize or finish something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempting to complete the" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an ongoing effort to finish a task. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for a variety of contexts, though it leans toward a neutral to professional register. While frequently found in News & Media and Science, you can also use alternatives like "trying to finalize the" or "working to finish the" to refine your message or adjust the tone. Remember to use this phrase when the outcome is uncertain, and avoid it when success is already assured.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to finalize the

Replaces "complete" with "finalize", suggesting a focus on bringing something to its finished form.

working to finish the

Uses "working" to emphasize the ongoing effort, and "finish" as a more casual substitute for "complete".

endeavoring to conclude the

More formal and emphasizes a serious or determined effort using "endeavoring" and "conclude".

seeking to accomplish the

Highlights the aim or goal using "seeking" and replaces "complete" with the more ambitious "accomplish".

aiming to achieve the

Focuses on the intended outcome using "aiming" and replaces "complete" with "achieve", suggesting a successful result is the objective.

striving to fulfill the

Indicates a considerable effort and struggle using "striving" and replaces "complete" with "fulfill", often used for obligations or requirements.

undertaking to perfect the

Emphasizes the commitment to start and pursue something complex using "undertaking" and replaces "complete" with "perfect", which suggests a higher level of quality.

pursuing the completion of

Rearranges the phrase to emphasize the act of pursuing the completion rather than the attempt itself.

in the process of completing the

Highlights that the action is currently happening, but the end is not there yet. Using different vocabulary than "attempting".

engaged in completing the

Similar to the previous one, it underlines that is an ongoing activity, but replacing "process" with "engaged".

FAQs

What does "attempting to complete the" mean?

The phrase "attempting to complete the" means someone is in the process of trying to finish or finalize something. It implies an ongoing effort with an uncertain outcome.

How to use "attempting to complete the" in a sentence?

You can use "attempting to complete the" to describe someone's ongoing effort to finish a task. For example, "The team is attempting to complete the project before the deadline."

What can I say instead of "attempting to complete the"?

You can use alternatives like "trying to finalize the", "working to finish the", or "aiming to achieve the" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "attempting to complete the" and "completed the"?

"Attempting to complete the" implies that the action is ongoing, and the task is not yet finished. "Completed the", on the other hand, indicates that the task has been successfully finished.