incomplete stories

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a collection of short stories or parts of stories that are incomplete or unfinished. For example: "This book contains a collection of incomplete stories, most of which were written by unknown authors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Newspapers, wary of having incomplete stories, went along.

The New York Times

There's an enduring need in Australia to build myths on incomplete stories..

The Guardian

They are incomplete stories, and viewers are left longing to meet Ms. Letinsky's missing revelers.

The New York Times - Arts

It's much more the story, or rather a series of interlocking, incomplete stories, about what it feels like to be a certain age and to feel caught, as the title suggests, between the desire to be yourself and the longing to fit in.

The New York Times

I'm one of those people who hate incomplete stories.

Huffington Post

This book is filled with seemingly-impossible, bizarre, and incomplete stories that changed history.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Yet such comparisons tell an incomplete story.

The New York Times - Sports

"There are two kinds of story, " he wrote, "the whole story, and the incomplete story.

The New York Times

This is a stereotype, an incomplete story, and the narrative needs changing.

The Guardian - Travel

"An incomplete story referencing Apple Inc was inadvertently published by Bloomberg News at 4.27pm New York time today.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But when the ad ends, fantasy's narrative gives way to the incomplete story arc of reality.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "incomplete stories", ensure the context clarifies what makes them incomplete: missing information, unresolved plot points, or lack of a conclusion. This avoids ambiguity and provides a clearer understanding for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "incomplete stories" as a vague descriptor. Always provide specific details about what is missing or unresolved in the narrative to give the reader a clearer picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incomplete stories" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "incomplete" modifies the noun "stories". Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incomplete stories" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe narratives lacking essential elements. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in various contexts, primarily within news, media, and online encyclopedias. When employing this term, ensuring clarity by specifying the nature of the incompleteness can enhance understanding. Alternatives such as "unfinished narratives" or "fragmentary accounts" may provide more nuanced descriptions depending on the intended meaning. By providing more context around what makes a story incomplete, its overall impact can be effectively communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfinished narratives

Replaces "stories" with "narratives", emphasizing the broader sense of a recounted sequence of events that lacks completion.

partial tales

Substitutes "incomplete" with "partial" and "stories" with "tales", highlighting the fragmentary nature of the narratives.

fragmentary accounts

Uses "fragmentary" to underscore the broken or disjointed aspect of the "accounts", suggesting missing pieces.

unresolved plots

Focuses on the "plots" aspect of stories, emphasizing that they remain "unresolved" or without a conclusion.

truncated narratives

Replaces "incomplete" with "truncated", which suggests that the narratives have been cut short.

abridged chronicles

Uses "abridged" to indicate a shortened version and "chronicles" to broaden the scope of the narratives.

sketchy anecdotes

Highlights the "sketchy" or vague nature of the "anecdotes", suggesting a lack of detail or thoroughness.

patchy narratives

Emphasizes the uneven or inconsistent quality of the "narratives", implying missing or weak areas.

gaps in the story

Uses a more literal description of what is missing, referring to "gaps" within a single story.

uncompleted sagas

Substitutes "stories" with "sagas", which implies a longer and more complex narrative, and highlights that they are "uncompleted".

FAQs

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

You can use "incomplete stories" to describe narratives that lack essential elements, such as "The historian pieced together fragments of evidence to reconstruct the "incomplete stories" of the past".

What is a good alternative to "incomplete stories"?

Alternatives include "unfinished narratives", "partial tales", or "fragmentary accounts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when stories are described as "incomplete"?

When stories are described as "incomplete", it typically means they are missing key details, lack a clear resolution, or have gaps in the narrative structure. This can leave the audience with unanswered questions or a sense of ambiguity.

How do "incomplete stories" affect the audience?

"Incomplete stories" can evoke a range of reactions, from curiosity and engagement to frustration and dissatisfaction. The impact depends on how effectively the incompleteness is used to create tension, suspense, or a thought-provoking experience.