complete the phrase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete the phrase" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to finish or provide the rest of a statement or expression that is not fully articulated. Example: "Please complete the phrase: 'To be or not to be, that is the...'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Or try to complete the phrase: "The forms of.... are enclosed".

Independent

When asked to complete the phrase "the Premier League is the _____ league in the world," Lineker replied: "Richest".

The Guardian - Sport

And my desk mate, her slanted black eyes gleaming through pink plastic glasses, will complete the phrase: "Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb".

The New Yorker

One of the game's questions asks players to complete the phrase: "It is illegal in Florida for a widow to... " "I looked on various websites, one in particular called dumblaws.com, and found loads of stupid laws.

The Guardian

French lessons come in handy, too, to complete the phrase Vive "LE ROI" and to figure out, in 10 Down, that the month of juillet comes in the the season of ETE.

The New York Times

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation once ran a contest to complete the phrase "as Canadian as --." If this kind of question were posed for Americans, the immediate and assertive reply would be "apple pie".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In his review of Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow" (Nov. 27), Jim Holt says of the fast, intuitive type of thought, "It is System 1 that detects hostility in a voice and effortlessly completes the phrase 'bread and...'.. " But its completion isn't as automatic as Holt supposes.

The New York Times - Books

And what would be the "hostile" way of completing the phrase?

The New Yorker

The audience completes the phrase "Jings, crivens, help ma boab!" without even being asked.

The Guardian

Type "Bermuda tax" into Google and the search engine's high-tech algorithm completes the phrase with a number of suggestions, including, "haven".

Independent

At the end, she let her voice swell to a tremendous sustained note on the word Felsen — "rock" — apparently pushing her voice to the limit; then, drawing on an inexhaustible reserve of power, she completed the phrase with undiminished force.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complete the phrase" in instructions, provide clear context or a partial phrase to ensure the user understands what to complete.

Common error

Avoid using "complete the phrase" without providing enough context, as this can lead to confusion about what needs to be completed. Always offer a starting point or clear instructions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "complete the phrase" is as an imperative phrase used to direct someone to finish an incomplete statement or expression. Ludwig AI examples showcase its usage in instructional contexts, such as tests or exercises.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complete the phrase" is a grammatically sound and functional phrase used to instruct someone to finish an incomplete expression. As noted by Ludwig AI, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, signifying its broad applicability. While rated as "Uncommon" in frequency, it offers a clear and direct way to prompt completion of thoughts or expressions. When employing this phrase, ensure clear context to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finish the sentence

This alternative focuses specifically on completing a sentence, a more narrow context than completing any phrase.

fill in the blank

This alternative suggests providing missing words, often in a pre-structured context, rather than forming a complete phrase from a fragment.

provide the missing words

Focuses on supplying absent words to finalize a phrase, highlighting the act of adding specific terms.

supply the ending

Emphasizes adding the concluding part of a phrase, indicating a temporal aspect of completion.

add the final touch

Implies a more creative or artistic completion, suggesting a subtle enhancement to finalize the phrase.

conclude the statement

This alternative refers to bringing a statement to its end, which is a more formal and definitive type of completion.

round out the expression

Suggests making the expression full or complete, emphasizing a sense of thoroughness and balance.

determine the rest of the phrase

Emphasizes the active role of figuring out what the remaining part of the phrase should be.

articulate the remainder

This is a more formal alternative, suggesting a careful and precise expression of what is left to complete the phrase.

elucidate the full phrase

Suggests making the entire phrase clear and understandable, focusing on clarity and comprehension.

FAQs

How do I use "complete the phrase" in a sentence?

You can use "complete the phrase" when you want someone to finish a sentence, saying, or expression. For example: "The test asked students to complete the phrase, 'A penny saved is a penny...'"

What's a more informal way to ask someone to "complete the phrase"?

Informally, you could ask someone to "finish the saying" or "fill in the blank" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "complete the sentence" instead of "complete the phrase"?

Yes, "complete the sentence" is correct, but it's more specific. If you're looking for any type of expression, "complete the phrase" is more appropriate. Consider "finish the sentence" as a suitable alternative.

What's the difference between "complete the phrase" and "fill in the blank"?

"Complete the phrase" is a broader request to finish an incomplete expression. "Fill in the blank" typically refers to a specific type of exercise where words are missing from a sentence.