before we complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before we complete" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a point in time prior to finishing a task or process. Example: "Before we complete the project, let's review our findings and make any necessary adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We do have investments in these 39 countries, but it would be premature to decide what kind of direction to take before we complete such an assessment".

The Guardian

In fact, it would be unlawful for the authority to take a position before we complete our historic preservation and environmental reviews, despite the wishes of those advocating that we rush to judgment in their favor.

The New York Times

The most valuable thing that Mrs. Clinton could do right now is to spearhead a sustained effort — along with the U.N., the European Union and Iraq's neighbors — to resolve the lingering disputes between Iraqi factions before we complete our withdrawal.

The New York Times

As Speaker Sheldon Silver of the Assembly sent his members home for a spring break, he warned that there are "many challenges ahead of us before we complete our work in this legislative session".

The New York Times

Before we complete this segment, finally, we demonstrate some long-recognizable results from the Hausdorff measure of non-compactness.

Advances in Difference Equations

We try and give the driver every opportunity to tell us their side of the story before we complete our investigation".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Before we completed our task, the Iraqis attacked with artillery.

The New York Times

I discovered all this before we completed on the sale.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Shortly before we completed this book, two people a young man and woman who worked with us were disembowelled and hung off a bridge in Tamaulipas, a state in the north of Mexico.

Vice

The T. spinipes nest we used in 2008 fell from its host tree and died before we completed our experiment, so we were only able to conduct three solvent control trials with this colony.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

We confirmed the suitability of the modified contents (e.g., The participants could understand 'Shiritori' more easily than crossword puzzles) through a second pilot study before we completed the CST-J.

Aging and Mental Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone you want to convey. "Before we complete" is suitable for both formal and informal settings, but alternatives like "prior to our completion" may be more appropriate for formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "before we complete" without clearly specifying who 'we' are and what 'we' are completing. Ensure both the subject and object are clearly defined in the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before we complete" functions as a temporal clause, indicating an action or state that precedes the completion of a specific task or process. This is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis, showing its use across various contexts to denote a preliminary stage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before we complete" is a grammatically sound and versatile temporal phrase used to sequence actions, according to Ludwig AI. While it's suitable for many contexts, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "prior to completion". Its purpose is to indicate that something must happen before finishing a task. The phrase sees common use in news and media as well as in scientific writing. The frequency is uncommon. Remember to clearly define the 'we' and what the completion entails for clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to our completion

Formal rephrasing emphasizing the state of completion.

prior to our finalizing

Highlights the finalizing action in a formal tone.

until we are finished

Focuses on the state of being finished as the endpoint.

before we're done

Simple and direct alternative.

before finishing up

More informal, emphasizes the act of finishing.

until we have concluded

Focuses on the act of concluding something.

in advance of our finalization

Highlights the finalization stage in a formal way.

in anticipation of finishing

Focuses on looking forward to the finishing.

before the culmination

Emphasizes the final result or climax.

ahead of our wrapping up

Informal, emphasizing the wrapping-up process.

FAQs

How can I use "before we complete" in a sentence?

Use "before we complete" to indicate an action that should occur prior to finishing something. For example, "Before we complete the project, let's review the budget."

What's a more formal alternative to "before we complete"?

A more formal alternative is "prior to our completion". This phrase is suitable for professional or academic writing.

What can I say instead of "before we complete" in an informal context?

In informal settings, you can use phrases like "before we're done" or "before we finish".

Is there a difference between "before we complete" and "after we complete"?

"Before we complete" indicates something should happen beforehand, whereas "after we complete" indicates something should happen afterward. They are opposites in terms of timing.