essentially complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essentially complete" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is nearly finished or has all the necessary components, but may still require minor adjustments or final touches. Example: "The project is essentially complete, but we still need to finalize the budget report before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The court has essentially complete control over its docket.

The New York Times

By 2005 the reactor at Būshehr was essentially complete.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At this point, whitefly metamorphosis is essentially complete.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These essentially complete the museum's survey of English silver from the 15th to 20th century.

The New York Times - Arts

The BAC's covering the two smallest human chromosomes, numbers 21 and 22, are essentially complete.

The New York Times

After a decade in the United States, Choo's assimilation is essentially complete.

The New York Times - Sports

The recapture of Burma was essentially complete with the taking of Rangoon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The department faces the clearest contradictions of its stance in Washington, which has an essentially complete ban on handguns.

The New York Times

The genome is now essentially complete, except some 500 small gaps that remain in regions between genes, Dr. Gardner said.

The New York Times - Science

The legal battlegrounds will be cities with ordinances similar to Washington's essentially complete ban, most notably Chicago.

The New York Times

With the company's internal investigation now essentially complete, and corrective actions under way, I have decided to step down".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "essentially complete" to convey that something is nearly finished but might need some minor adjustments or final touches. It avoids the implication of absolute perfection.

Common error

Avoid using "essentially complete" when significant work remains. This phrase suggests near-total completion, so be sure your assessment aligns with the actual state of the project or task.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essentially complete" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something is nearly finished or substantially whole. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "essentially complete" is a versatile adjective phrase indicating that something is very close to being finished, with perhaps only minor adjustments remaining. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and suitable for diverse formal and informal contexts, particularly in scientific, news media, and encyclopedic content. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the near-finished state to avoid overstating completion. Consider alternatives like "virtually complete" or "practically complete" for nuanced meanings. Overall, "essentially complete" serves as a precise and useful descriptor for conveying near-total fulfillment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually complete

Emphasizes the near-total completion with only minor elements possibly missing.

practically complete

Highlights the functional completion, implying readiness for intended use.

almost complete

Indicates a high degree of completion, with just a few remaining tasks.

nearly finished

Focuses on the final stages of completion without specifying the exact degree.

substantially finished

Highlights the major part is done, though not necessarily entirely.

largely done

Indicates a considerable amount of work has been completed.

basically finished

Suggests a fundamental level of completion, minor details may need addressing.

close to completion

Highlights that the completion is expected soon and is in the final stages.

effectively complete

Focuses on the final stages of completion, minor details may need addressing.

tantamount to complete

Suggests an equivalent state to full completion.

FAQs

What does "essentially complete" mean?

The phrase "essentially complete" means something is very close to being finished, but may require some minor final touches or adjustments.

What can I say instead of "essentially complete"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually complete", "practically complete", or "almost complete" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "essentially complete" in formal writing?

Yes, "essentially complete" is appropriate for formal writing. It's used in academic papers, news reports, and business documents to describe something nearly finished.

How does "essentially complete" differ from "completely finished"?

"Essentially complete" implies minor tasks or adjustments may still be needed, while "completely finished" suggests the task is 100% done with no remaining steps.