incomplete lines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incomplete lines" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to lines of text, poetry, or code that are not fully formed or finished. Example: "The poem was powerful, but the author left several incomplete lines that added to its mystery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

When I print from certain Web sites, pages are often cut off at the right margin, leaving incomplete lines of text.

The New York Times - Tech

For years, brokers started with existing floor plans from a collection of telephone-directory-size binders, Mr. Makowski said, but those have become less useful because they are often copies with blurred or incomplete lines and illegible writing that do not look good on the Web.

The New York Times

If a node A did not receive consecutive heartbeats from neighbor node F, it marks the F as failed and sets a flag to indicate that recovery is incomplete (lines 6 12).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The fragment has eight incomplete lines of writing on one side and is badly damaged on the other side, with only three faded words and a few letters of ink that are visible, even with the use of infrared photography and computer-aided enhancement.

Huffington Post

Related lines are denoted as rCC while incomplete lines are denoted as iCC in Table S2.

Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The little book, with illustrations by the artist Tom Bloom, is an interactive invitation to readers to fill in incomplete line drawings with their own pencil.

The New York Times

Carol was suddenly a widow: in news parlance, "an incomplete line of type," as she wistfully notes.

Huffington Post

All the de novo consensus sequences classified as "incomplete" LINE retrotransposons from D. melanogaster (28% of those from A. thaliana) matched only known LINE retrotransposons from Repbase Update, but with no polyA-/SSR-like tail.

Plosone

In the WGCT, participants have to judge the coherence of incomplete line drawings that are either fragmented or scrambled.

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience

Since meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which initiate recombination, are induced at sites of preformed LinEs, we suggest that reduced recombination is a consequence of incomplete LinE extension.

Current Genetics

The authors suggested that shallow wells and boreholes in the study area, as well as the incomplete lining of most latrines, contributed to high levels of groundwater contamination (Zingoni et al. 2005).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing visual representations like drawings or diagrams, use "incomplete lines" to denote that portions are missing or not fully rendered. For example, "The diagram showed the circuit with several "incomplete lines", indicating missing connections."

Common error

Avoid using "incomplete lines" when you mean "unclear lines". "Incomplete" refers to something unfinished, while "unclear" refers to something difficult to understand or see. For instance, a faded drawing has "unclear lines", not necessarily "incomplete lines".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incomplete lines" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate that certain lines are not fully formed or finished. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically correct and readily understood.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incomplete lines" is a grammatically sound and generally accepted way to describe lines that are not fully formed or finished. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears across various domains including Science, News & Media, and Wiki. It’s important to use it accurately, distinguishing it from similar terms like "unclear lines". When in doubt, consider alternatives like "partial lines" or "unfinished lines" to ensure the intended meaning is clearly conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partial lines

Focuses on the lines being only a fraction of what they could be.

unfinished lines

Highlights the lack of completion in the lines.

fragmentary lines

Emphasizes the broken or disjointed nature of the lines.

broken lines

Suggests the lines are interrupted or discontinuous.

truncated lines

Indicates the lines have been cut short or abbreviated.

imperfect lines

Focuses on the lines not meeting a standard or ideal.

defective lines

Highlights the lines having a flaw or imperfection.

deficient lines

Emphasizes the lines lacking essential elements.

sketchy lines

Suggests the lines are roughly drawn or lack detail.

rudimentary lines

Indicates the lines are basic or underdeveloped.

FAQs

How can I use "incomplete lines" in a sentence?

You can use "incomplete lines" to describe drawings, diagrams, or other visual representations where certain portions are missing or not fully rendered. For example, "The sketch showed the building's foundation with some "incomplete lines"" indicating the design was not finalized.

What is a good alternative to "incomplete lines"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "incomplete lines" could include "partial lines", "unfinished lines", or "fragmentary lines". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "incomplete lines" versus "broken lines"?

"Incomplete lines" suggests that something is unfinished or missing, while "broken lines" imply that something was once whole but is now separated. Use "incomplete" when the line was never fully drawn, and "broken" when it has been interrupted.

What does it mean when a diagram has "incomplete lines"?

When a diagram features "incomplete lines", it typically signifies that the design or representation is not yet finalized or that certain components are missing. It can also indicate that the diagram is a work in progress.