close to completing

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "close to completing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you are nearly finished with a task. For example: "We are close to completing the project, we just need to check a few more details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Was I close to completing anything I could sell?

The New Yorker

We're pretty close to completing our first acquisition.

The New York Times

In truth, McIlroy is close to completing the circle.

Independent

Northampton Town are close to completing a takeover deal with a consortium from India.

The Guardian - Sport

EXTRA POINTS The Jets are close to completing a contract extension for running back CURTIS MARTIN.

The New York Times - Sports

Roman Pavlyuchenko is close to completing a £12m transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Guardian - Sport

Croatia is close to completing its EU negotiations and could join in a year's time.

The Guardian

At his death, he was close to completing a memoir, "The Fourteen-Ounce Pound".

The New York Times - Arts

According to two industry executives, CSTV is close to completing a deal with Time Warner Cable.

The New York Times - Sports

Seattle got pretty close to completing a comeback from the deep half-time deficit.

The Guardian - Sport

The Mets and the right-hander Elmer Dessens were close to completing a minor league contract.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "close to completing" with a specific timeframe or next step to provide a clearer picture of the completion timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "close to completing" when the task is already finished. Use "completed" or "finished" instead to accurately reflect the state of the task.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to completing" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is nearing the end of a process. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. For example, 'The project is close to completing'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to completing" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe tasks or projects that are nearing their final stages. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science domains. While alternatives like "nearing completion" or "almost finished" exist, "close to completing" provides a clear and professional way to communicate progress. Remember to avoid using it when the task is already finished and consider adding a specific timeframe for greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearing completion

Replaces "close to" with "nearing", emphasizing the progress towards completion.

approaching completion

Similar to "nearing completion" but with a slightly different nuance.

about to be completed

Indicates the completion is expected very soon.

almost finished

Uses a more direct and common phrasing to indicate near completion.

nearing the end

A simpler and more general way to express nearing completion.

on the verge of finishing

Emphasizes the imminence of completion, suggesting it's about to happen.

close to being done

A more informal phrasing to indicate near completion.

in the final stages of completion

Highlights that the process is in its last steps.

virtually complete

Emphasizes that something is so close to completion that it's practically done.

drawing to a close

A more figurative way of saying something is nearing its end.

FAQs

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

You can use "close to completing" to describe the status of a task or project that is nearing its end. For example, "The team is "close to completing" the software update."

What are some alternatives to "close to completing"?

Alternatives include "nearing completion", "almost finished", or "on the verge of finishing", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "close to completed"?

While understandable, "close to completed" is less common and less grammatically standard than ""close to completing"". The latter is generally preferred.

What's the difference between ""close to completing"" and "about to complete"?

"Close to completing" suggests a process that is well underway and nearing its end, while "about to complete" implies the completion is imminent and will happen very soon.