incomplete list

USAGE SUMMARY

"incomplete list" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to indicate that the list being presented is not comprehensive. For example, "The following is an incomplete list of people who have won Nobel Prizes for Literature."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And that's an incomplete list.

The Guardian - Sport

An incomplete list had been submitted to the Guardian.

The Guardian

Check out this incomplete list of projects supported by freenode.

University of California, Berkeley

"The following is an incomplete list of things that alarm horses," one section warned.

The New Yorker

As a bonus feature, we've compiled an incomplete list of Freeman's past authoritative roles.

The New York Times

Below is an incomplete list to complement the one Bernard provided.

Columbia University

In addition, diplomats said, the United States had provided a delayed and incomplete list of chemical factories to be inspected.

The New York Times

Wikipedia's own incomplete list of hoaxes makes interesting and comical reading (I particularly appreciated the fictitious "Township of Asstree, Tennessee").

The Guardian

An incomplete list of Kenny's output within the past six months includes new productions in York, Manchester and Sheffield.

The Guardian

A 5.5″ x 6.5″ x 3″ ivory-colored bust of "Witcher 2" character "Gwynbleioo". This is an incomplete list.

The Washington Post

An incomplete list of the laws passed in Hainan was announced by the state-run news agency, Xinhua, last week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incomplete list", clearly state the criteria for inclusion or exclusion to manage reader expectations. This provides context and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "incomplete list" without acknowledging its limitations. Failing to do so can mislead readers into believing the list is exhaustive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incomplete list" functions as a noun phrase acting as an adjective modifying a noun. It characterizes the type of list being presented. Ludwig AI validates this usage, showing it consistently prefaces lists across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

29%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incomplete list" is a versatile and frequently used phrase that serves to indicate a non-exhaustive enumeration of items. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. It's crucial to use it responsibly, clearly acknowledging the list's limitations to avoid misleading the audience. Alternatives like "partial listing" or "non-exhaustive list" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partial listing

Focuses on the aspect that the list is only a section or part of a bigger one, rather than emphasizing that something is missing from it.

non-exhaustive list

A more formal way to say that the list doesn't cover all possible items, changing just the adjective.

limited selection

Highlights the small amount of items, focusing on the small number of choices offered.

preliminary inventory

Suggests that the list is a starting point or a first draft, focusing on the starting point idea.

tentative catalog

Emphasizes that the list is not yet finalized or confirmed, highlighting the not finalized idea.

representative sample

Suggests that the list includes items that are typical examples of a larger group, with a focus on typical examples.

selective compendium

Suggests a careful choice of what to include, implying a degree of curation or bias, shifting focus on curation.

abridged enumeration

Indicates that the list has been shortened or reduced in scope, focusing on the fact that something was shortened.

curtailed index

Conveys that the index has been reduced or limited in its content, pointing out that has been reduced.

summary compilation

Conveys the idea of being a quick collection or selection of key pieces of something, just key parts.

FAQs

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

You can use "incomplete list" to preface a selection of items that are not exhaustive. For example, "Here is an "incomplete list" of potential solutions to the problem".

What is a more formal alternative to "incomplete list"?

A more formal alternative would be "non-exhaustive list". This phrase conveys the same meaning with a higher degree of formality.

Is it always necessary to label a list as "incomplete"?

It is good practice to label a list as "incomplete" if it does not contain all relevant items. This helps to avoid misleading your audience. Failing to do so can give the impression that the "exhaustive list" exists.

What's the difference between "incomplete list" and "partial list"?

While similar, "incomplete list" emphasizes that items are missing, while "partial list" simply indicates that only a portion of the whole is presented. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the absence of items or merely the limited scope.