had virtually finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had virtually finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has almost completed a task or activity, but not quite finished it entirely. Example: "By the time the deadline approached, I had virtually finished the report, just needing to add a few final touches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In December 2011, Park and his colleagues had virtually finished the preliminary DP windings, and were looking forward to stacking them for further testing.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Also, we had finished our writing and had virtually finished our production by the beginning of the strike, so it's really kind of a moot point, because this was a pre-existing business arrangement.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Theresa May has virtually finished appointing her first cabinet.

The Guardian

He told the Daily Star: "We've virtually finished the first, which is acoustic.

The Guardian - Music

As well as the drones, Hicks said the Navy has virtually finished testing all its ships and aircraft on 50-50 blendsl blends.

The Guardian

As he reveals to the Observer, reaction to his remarks about the alleged lachrymose tendencies of female researchers has virtually finished off the 72-year-old Nobel laureate's career as a senior scientific adviser.

The Guardian

Hicks, attending the World Biofuels Markets conference in Rotterdam, told me that using biofuel had caused no negative issues for the operation of the drones: "In fact, because the fuel is cleaner, we have seen some positive impacts, as per the engine performance". As well as the drones, Hicks said the Navy has virtually finished testing all its ships and aircraft on 50-50 blendsl blends.

The Guardian

Although the film has virtually finished its domestic theatrical run and Sony changed its domestic campaign under legal pressure from Miramax, the movie continues to play in foreign markets.

Los Angeles Times

Barcelona were slicing through Celtic, the moves not finished until they had virtually run out of pitch.

The Guardian - Sport

Although Gonzalez had virtually no time to recruit, he signed five players who helped the Jaspers finish 12-15 in his first season.

The New York Times - Sports

The Madsen place had virtually disappeared.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had virtually finished" to convey that a task is very close to completion, but some minor steps or details might still be outstanding. This implies a high degree of progress without claiming absolute finality.

Common error

Avoid using "had virtually finished" when the task is actually fully complete. This phrase implies near completion, not absolute completion; using it otherwise can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had virtually finished" functions as a stative verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It describes a state of near-completion that existed at a point in the past before another action or time, often implying that only minor details remained. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had virtually finished" is a useful phrase to indicate that something was very close to completion in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is considered grammatically sound and generally used in reliable sources. When using this phrase, remember that it implies near completion, not absolute completion. It's important to select the appropriate alternative, such as "had almost completed" or "had nearly finished", depending on the specific context. Its frequency of use is uncommon, appearing mostly in News & Media and Academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had almost completed

Emphasizes the nearness to completion with a slightly less formal tone.

had nearly finished

Similar to 'almost completed' but with a slightly different nuance of approximation.

had practically finished

Highlights the practical aspect of being finished, implying only minor tasks remain.

had essentially completed

Focuses on the core tasks being done, with less emphasis on minor details.

had all but finished

Indicates that only a small part remains to be done, adding a touch of emphasis.

was on the verge of finishing

Shifts the focus to the imminence of completion, rather than the current state.

was close to finishing

A more straightforward way of saying 'nearly finished', suitable for informal contexts.

had substantially finished

Highlights the significant portion that is complete, useful in formal settings.

had effectively finished

Suggests that the task is finished for all practical purposes, although some formalities may remain.

had close to finished

Colloquial alternative with a relaxed tone, indicating approximation.

FAQs

What does "had virtually finished" mean?

The phrase "had virtually finished" means that something was very close to being completely finished, almost to the point of completion but not quite there yet. It implies that only minor details or tasks remained.

What can I say instead of "had virtually finished"?

You can use alternatives like "had almost completed", "had nearly finished", or "had practically finished" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had virtually finished"?

Yes, "had virtually finished" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate near completion. It accurately conveys the idea that something was very close to being finished.

What's the difference between "had virtually finished" and "had completely finished"?

The phrase "had virtually finished" indicates a state of near completion, suggesting that only minor tasks remain. In contrast, "had completely finished" implies that the task is entirely done and there are no further steps required.