documents were completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "documents were completed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that certain documents have been finished or finalized, often in a formal or professional context. Example: "After several weeks of hard work, I am pleased to announce that all necessary documents were completed and submitted for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The transaction documents were completed by June 15 and the merger was announced June 16.

TechCrunch

The other documents were completed by the NTP manager only (11 countries) or the NRL managers only (four countries).

Plosone

Two documents were completed by each investigator.

BMC Cancer

Regular project team meetings were conducted, and functional requirements and software specification documents were completed in 2009.

Emerging Health Threats Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Once the legal documents are completed, the case will then be forwarded to the court to judgment".

Independent

Content analysis of policy documents was completed and a summary of relevant information was included in results.

BMC Health Services Research

When the document is completed, it is then placed in the hands of other professionals.

The New York Times

The document was completed and promulgated a year earlier, on Feb. 1, 1889.

Encyclopedia Britannica

George Tenet, director of central intelligence, began briefings in December about the agency's new assessment, shortly after the document was completed, the officials said.

The New York Times

When it's agreed that the document is completed, it can then be published to a blog (WordPress, Typepad) or downloaded (.doc,.txt,.rtf, Open Office).

TechCrunch

The warrant reads: "That document was completed on May 20 , 2011 and identified Mutum Sigillum LLC as a business not engaged in money services".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the action of completing the documents, rather than their state, consider using a more active voice construction. This can often make your writing more direct and engaging.

Common error

Avoid using "documents were completed" excessively in contexts where active voice would be more impactful. Over-reliance on the passive voice can make your writing sound indirect and less engaging. Consider rephrasing with an active verb where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "documents were completed" functions as a passive construction indicating that the action of completing the documents has been performed by an unspecified agent. Ludwig AI provides examples where this phrase is used in contexts ranging from business transactions to scientific studies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "documents were completed" is a grammatically correct passive construction commonly used to denote that a process of documentation has reached its final stage. According to Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for a range of contexts, from scientific publications to business reports, indicating a neutral to formal register. While the phrase is valid, be mindful of overusing passive voice and consider active constructions where appropriate. Based on the examples provided by Ludwig, this phrase sees frequent use in scientific, news and media, and wiki contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

documents have been finalized

Replaces "were completed" with "have been finalized", emphasizing the finished state using a different verb.

documents were finalized

Substitutes "completed" with "finalized", maintaining a formal tone with a more direct verb.

documents are finished

Uses a simpler adjective, "finished", instead of the verb "completed", making it slightly less formal.

paperwork has been finished

Uses "paperwork" instead of "documents" and "finished" instead of "completed", offering a slightly less formal alternative.

the documentation is complete

Replaces "documents were completed" with a noun phrase emphasizing the state of being complete.

the paperwork is done

Replaces "documents" with "paperwork" and uses "done" for "completed", making it more informal.

all documents are ready

Focuses on the readiness of the documents, implying completion in a more straightforward manner.

documents are now ready

Emphasizes the current state of readiness, reinforcing the idea that the documents have reached their final stage.

the files are ready

Substitutes "documents" with "files", making it applicable in a digital context, and focuses on their readiness.

documents saw completion

Uses a more literary and less direct phrasing, indicating the act of completion rather than a state.

FAQs

How can I use "documents were completed" in a sentence?

You can use "documents were completed" to indicate the conclusion of a task, such as: "After the audit, the financial "documents were completed" and submitted".

What's an alternative to saying "documents were completed"?

Alternatives include "documents were finalized", "documents are finished", or "the documentation is complete", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when talking about documents?

It depends on the context. "Documents were completed" (passive) emphasizes the documents themselves. Active voice (e.g., "The team completed the documents") emphasizes who did the work.

What is the difference between "documents were completed" and "documents are complete"?

"Documents were completed" implies a process that has finished, whereas "documents are complete" describes the current state. The first focuses on an action, the second on a condition.