comprehensive but not complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprehensive but not complete" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that covers a wide range of information or aspects but does not include everything. Example: "The report is comprehensive but not complete, as it does not address all the recent developments in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the past 30 years, these models have evolved from rather crude representations of the physics and chemistry impacting trace species to their current state: comprehensive, but not complete.

Atmospheric Environment

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But not complete proof.

The Economist

"The matter is closed — but not complete.

The New York Times

This space is convex, but not complete.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

My answer was truthful, but not complete.

Huffington Post

Food for Training activities were initiated but not completed.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

We constructed AlzPathway to be comprehensive but not necessarily to be complete.

BMC Systems Biology

While our dataset is comprehensive, it is not complete.

Plosone

One could however hold that morality is comprehensive but not dominant, or dominant but not comprehensive, or indeed neither dominant nor comprehensive.

SEP

Although most survivors included in this latter study were also included in the more recent comprehensive investigation, 425 survivors did not complete the more recent questionnaire, but their GP at the time had provided us with information on their offspring.

British Journal of Cancer

But that is not complete.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comprehensive but not complete" to accurately represent situations where a thorough effort has been made, but some aspects are still lacking or require further development. This shows nuanced understanding and avoids overstating the completeness of something.

Common error

Avoid using "comprehensive but not complete" when the subject is clearly incomplete or lacks essential elements. This phrase is most effective when the subject is largely thorough, with only minor gaps or areas needing further refinement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprehensive but not complete" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun or idea by indicating that it is thorough in scope yet still lacking in some aspects. This acknowledges both the breadth and limitations of the subject. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "comprehensive but not complete" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates a broad and thorough approach with acknowledged limitations. Ludwig AI shows that it's most frequently used in science, news, and formal business contexts. Related phrases include "thorough yet incomplete" and "extensive but lacking". When using this phrase, it's best to ensure that the subject is indeed largely thorough to avoid misrepresentation. This phrase offers a nuanced way to describe something that strives for completeness but falls slightly short.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thorough yet incomplete

Focuses on the contrast between thoroughness and incompleteness.

extensive but lacking

Emphasizes the broad scope but highlights the absence of certain elements.

detailed but not exhaustive

Highlights the level of detail while acknowledging it's not all-encompassing.

wide-ranging but limited

Indicates a broad scope with certain restrictions or boundaries.

inclusive but partial

Suggests inclusion but also incompleteness.

broad but unfinished

Implies a wide scope that remains uncompleted.

all-inclusive yet deficient

Emphasizes the intent to include everything but acknowledges a shortfall.

covers a lot of ground, but misses some points

Informal way of saying something gets most things right, but there are still some important things not touched upon.

largely complete, but with gaps

This phrase highlights the near completion state, acknowledging that some gaps exist.

approaches completeness, but falls short

This phrase emphasizes that the subject almost reaches a state of completion, yet fails to do so.

FAQs

How can I use "comprehensive but not complete" in a sentence?

You can use "comprehensive but not complete" to describe a report, study, or analysis that covers a wide range of information but may still have some gaps or missing details. For example, "The study is "comprehensive but not complete", as it doesn't include data from the most recent quarter."

What phrases are similar to "comprehensive but not complete"?

Similar phrases include "thorough yet incomplete", "extensive but lacking", or "detailed but not exhaustive". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "comprehensive but not complete"?

While the terms seem contradictory, they highlight that although a subject has been approached with breadth, absolute completion hasn't been reached. The phrase emphasizes the effort towards thoroughness while acknowledging remaining gaps. Therefore, it is not necessarily redundant and often appropriately nuanced.

What is the difference between "comprehensive" and "complete"?

"Comprehensive" means covering a wide range of concerns, whereas "complete" means having all the necessary or appropriate parts. Something can be comprehensive by covering many aspects without being fully "complete".