incomplete statements

USAGE SUMMARY

"incomplete statements" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a statement that has missing information or one that is not finished. For example, "The witness provided some incomplete statements, so the prosecutor had to ask additional questions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

They said he told the co-defendants to "keep your mouth shut," and that he gave incomplete statements to the police.

The New York Times - Sports

The editor of Newsnight, Peter Rippon, who "stepped aside" on Monday after the BBC said he had made "inaccurate or incomplete" statements about the Jimmy Savile scandal, could be forced to appear before MPs.

The Guardian

Confronted with evidence that while he was chief lieutenant to Mr. Haughey, blank checks for party funds that he signed enriched his boss, Mr. Ahern ducked disapproval through the deft use of partial recall, indecision and incomplete statements.

The New York Times

During the trial it became apparent that the investigation had been botched, and that much of the police work had been shockingly incompetent: lost paperwork, incomplete statements and unreliable ballistics reports.

The Guardian - Opinion

The state comptroller on Monday rescinded his office's 2002 approval of a contract granting a developer exclusive access rights to the Erie Canal, saying officials of the state's Canal Corporation had made false, misleading and incomplete statements on the deal.

The New York Times

In a letter to the attorney general, Eric Holder, the lawyers said that Justice Department officials had made "inaccurate, misleading and incomplete statements" to a federal judge and to the CBS program "60 Minutes" regarding Mr. Birkenfeld's limited cooperation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Galata Sarap Iskelesi Sokak 10, [phone], karakoyrooms.com, doubles from £108 An ellipsis is the three dots that follow an incomplete statement.

The Guardian - Travel

The court said Thursday that it had received an incomplete statement of appeal from the Iraqi federation and expected to receive the full appeal by Monday.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Lewis, 25, who has a four-year, $26 million contract with the Ravens, pleaded guilty to a charge of obstruction of justice stemming from the "incomplete statement" he made to the police, his lawyer said.

The New York Times

In his article "Fitting Into History's True Fabric" [May 6], about the Jean Nouvel design for a SoHo hotel, Herbert Muschamp makes a factually correct but incomplete statement when he writes, "In approving the design, the city's landmarks agency, led by Jennifer J. Raab, overturned a previous resolution to reject the design by the local community board's landmarks panel".

The New York Times - Arts

The panel claimed that Olympus had requested  three financial institutions to provide incomplete financial statements on company savings to KPMG, despite requests from the auditors for more information.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incomplete statements", clarify what specific information is missing or unclear to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The report contained "incomplete statements" regarding the company's financial liabilities, specifically lacking details on long-term debts."

Common error

Avoid assuming your audience understands the implication of "incomplete statements" without providing context. Always specify what is lacking, or what the consequences of that omission might be. Without that you may generate confusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incomplete statements" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object or subject complement in a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe declarations, reports, or accounts that are missing essential information, whether deliberately or unintentionally.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incomplete statements" serves to denote declarations lacking essential details, utilized across various contexts ranging from news and media to scientific reports. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Related phrases, such as "partial statements" and "unfinished statements", offer nuanced alternatives, while clarity in usage is paramount to avoid ambiguity. To ensure precise communication, it's best practice to specify what is lacking to mitigate confusion. Ludwig's analysis underscores its importance in clear, objective reporting and analysis, emphasizing the necessity for completeness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfinished statements

Focuses on the lack of completion rather than the missing information.

partial statements

Highlights the aspect of the statements being only partly revealed.

sketchy statements

Implies a lack of detail and potential unreliability.

fragmentary statements

Emphasizes the broken or disconnected nature of the statements.

limited disclosures

Specifically refers to the act of revealing information, but with restrictions.

deficient accounts

Highlights the inadequacy or lack of something essential in the accounts.

lacking declarations

Focuses on the declarations that are missing some crucial information.

gaps in reporting

Specifically addresses the missing elements within a report or account.

truncated remarks

Refers to remarks that have been shortened or cut off.

elliptical expressions

Highlights the use of omission in speech or writing, making it indirect.

FAQs

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

You can use "incomplete statements" to describe information that is not fully detailed or is missing crucial elements. For example, "The witness provided "incomplete statements" to the police, leading to a prolonged investigation."

What's the difference between "incomplete statements" and "misleading statements"?

"Incomplete statements" are missing information, while "misleading statements" present information in a way that is intended to deceive, even if all the facts are technically present.

What can I say instead of "incomplete statements"?

You can use alternatives like "partial statements", "unfinished statements", or "sketchy statements" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "incomplete statements"?

Use "incomplete statements" when you want to objectively describe statements that lack necessary details, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It is suitable in formal reports, legal documents, and news articles.