close to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to complete" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that something is very close to being completed or finished. For example, "We're close to complete on the project - by Tuesday we should have everything finished."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With thousands on their way out — the Olympics end Sunday — the hotels are close to complete.

The Washington Post

By contrast, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Vermont and Wyoming are close to complete compliance.

The New York Times

A century or so ago, the dinosaur fossil record was not great and few skeletons were close to complete.

The Guardian

All the same, he encouraged humanity to keep striving to get as close to "complete happiness" as possible.

The Guardian

For several years, the Army Corps of Engineers has been demolishing some 95 crumbling military structures at the former Fort Slocum, and that task is close to complete.

The New York Times

With the shares edging up to our price target, we believe the re-rating relative to peers is close to complete.

The Guardian - Business

Over the course of the year, players had grown close to the creators of a club at which most of our contracts were close to complete.

The Guardian - Sport

This was wishful thinking: there had been no such revision, just thousands of pages of a half-dozen versions, none close to complete.

The New Yorker

Recent reports from Israeli financial news site Calcalist suggests that these rebuttals were simply political and that talks between the two companies are now "close" to complete.

Independent

I can't promise I caught every single one, but it's pretty darn close to complete.

Forbes

The app was out there, and looked pretty close to complete.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing progress, use "close to complete" to convey that a task or project is nearing its final stages. It assures stakeholders that completion is imminent.

Common error

While versatile, "close to complete" may lack the precision required for highly formal reports. Consider using more specific language to detail the remaining steps or exact percentage completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to complete" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the state of a noun. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns like "hotels", "compliance", and "task".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to complete" is a versatile and grammatically correct adjectival modifier, commonly used to indicate that something is nearing its final stages. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability across various contexts. While it is most frequently found in news, media, and scientific domains, it is adaptable to both professional and neutral registers. For more formal or precise situations, consider alternative phrases like "nearly finished" or providing more specific progress metrics. The phrase effectively communicates proximity to completion, setting expectations and providing updates on project or task status.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly finished

Focuses on the state of being almost done.

almost complete

Emphasizes the degree of completeness attained.

nearing completion

Highlights the process of approaching completion.

virtually complete

Emphasizes that it is complete in all important aspects.

on the verge of completion

Suggests an imminent finalization.

practically complete

Highlights that it is complete for all practical purposes.

drawing to a close

Implies a gradual ending or finishing.

approaching finalization

Focuses on the act of making something final.

in the home stretch

An idiomatic expression for the final part of a task.

in its final stages

Indicates the last part of the process.

FAQs

How can I use "close to complete" in a sentence?

You can use "close to complete" to describe something that is nearing completion. For example, "The project is "close to complete", and we expect to finish it by next week."

What are some alternatives to saying "close to complete"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "nearly finished", "almost complete", or "nearing completion". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "almost complete" or "close to complete"?

Both "almost complete" and "close to complete" are acceptable. "Almost complete" might emphasize the degree of completeness slightly more, while "close to complete" highlights the proximity to the final stage.

Can "close to complete" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "close to complete" can be used in formal writing, but ensure it aligns with the desired level of precision. In situations demanding exactness, specifying the remaining work or percentage completed may be more suitable.