essentially done

USAGE SUMMARY

"essentially done" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something is almost complete or finished, but may still require some minor adjustments or touches. Example: After hours of work, the project was essentially done. We just needed to proofread it and make a few final changes before submitting it to the client.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Colts were essentially done.

The New York Times - Sports

By 1973 we were essentially done.

The New York Times

OK, and this is essentially done.

Cornell University

OC: The Vietnam War was essentially done.

Princeton University

They've essentially done the sourcing for you.

Harvard Business Review

With a bittersweet ending, Emmett's 10 days were essentially done.

The New York Times - Sports

And so we've essentially done the analysis, saying that those two expressions are equal.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

His job essentially done, Hayes faded in the run and finished 37th.

The New York Times - Sports

What Moss and Haynesworth have essentially done is tell the chefs they hate their food.

The New York Times

It did not say the projects had essentially done more harm than good.

The New York Times

By the time Michael got out of his car, the deal was essentially done.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "essentially done" when you want to convey that something is very close to being finished, but might need minor adjustments or final touches. It's ideal when you want to communicate a state of near-completion without claiming absolute finality.

Common error

Avoid using "essentially done" when something is far from complete or requires significant additional work. This can mislead your audience and create unrealistic expectations. If major tasks remain, use phrases like 'in progress' or 'under development' instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essentially done" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a state of near-completion or a condition where the core work is finished. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "essentially done" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that indicates a state of near-completion. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly usable in written English. It is prevalent across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While it implies that only minor adjustments are needed, it's crucial to avoid overstating the degree of completion if substantial work remains. Alternatives like "virtually complete" or "practically finished" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Be mindful of the remaining tasks when choosing this phrase to accurately reflect the progress of the project or task at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually complete

Emphasizes the near-total completion of something, implying only minor details remain.

practically finished

Highlights the practical aspect of being finished, suggesting it's ready for practical use.

almost finalized

Focuses on the finalization process, implying just a few steps are left before completion.

substantially completed

Indicates a significant portion is done, with only a small fraction remaining.

nearly accomplished

Stresses the achievement aspect, suggesting the goal is almost reached.

effectively over

Suggests that, for all practical purposes, something has concluded.

as good as finished

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the high likelihood of completion and the minimal effort needed.

close to completion

Highlights proximity to being complete, with a focus on the remaining distance.

drawing to a close

Suggests a gradual ending, emphasizing the process of finishing.

in the home stretch

An idiomatic phrase used when nearing the final part of a project or task.

FAQs

How can I use "essentially done" in a sentence?

You can use "essentially done" to describe a task, project, or process that is almost complete. For example, "The report is "essentially done"; we just need to proofread it."

What can I say instead of "essentially done"?

Alternatives include "virtually complete", "practically finished", or "almost finalized", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "essentially done" if it still needs some minor work?

Yes, "essentially done" implies that only minor adjustments or final touches are needed. If significant work remains, a different phrase would be more accurate.

What's the difference between "essentially done" and "completely finished"?

"Essentially done" suggests near completion, whereas "completely finished" implies there is absolutely nothing left to do. Use "completely finished" when there are no remaining tasks whatsoever.