incompletely

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'incompletely' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not finished or not done in its entirety. For example: "The report was incompletely filled out, so it had to be sent back for further information."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Objects like blue and round and blue are incompletely determined (or, in short: incomplete) objects.[16] Incomplete objects are necessarily nonexistent.

SEP

The lack of sensitivity of prices to exchange rate movements has been well documented; prices of tradable goods respond incompletely to variations in exchange rates – substantially less than proportional to the exchange rate change.

The Economist

As its chairman he brought the National Bank of Uzbekistan into the list of the world's 500 largest and turned it into the second most stable financial institution in the CIS.RONALD KENNEDIETashkentFinancial informationSIR Your article on Dow Jones & Company (October 24th) inaccurately and incompletely de-scribes Dow Jones's global alliance with NBC in CNBC.

The Economist

The result is that long-wavelength photons are lost and short-wave ones incompletely utilised.Dr Rogers gets round this by using a different material for each layer of the stack.

The Economist

The world's biggest carrier, American Airlines, has barely 7% of the global market, whereas the world's biggest carmaker, General Motors, has (with its associated firms) about a quarter of the world's automobile market.Aviation has been incompletely deregulated, and in only two markets: America and Europe.

The Economist

It is the incompletely digested molecules they leave behind that cause the smell.

The Economist

It is, however, a more tenable idea if that connection is still partly intact.To test that idea out, a clinical trial is planned at UCLA to test the technique for rehabilitating patients whose spinal cords are incompletely severed.

The Economist

The supreme court did not address the "chad" issue directly, but cited approvingly an Illinois supreme court decision which seemed to support the counting of incompletely punched ballots.

The Economist

Polynyas are as yet incompletely understood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The vertical distribution is also incompletely known.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Precise figures are still incompletely researched.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incompletely" when you want to emphasize that something is not yet finished or lacks essential parts. For example, "The research was incompletely documented, making further analysis difficult."

Common error

Don't use "incompletely" when a more precise adverb like "partially", "roughly", or "sketchily" would better convey the specific degree of incompleteness. For example, instead of "incompletely understood", consider "poorly understood" if understanding is generally lacking.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "incompletely" primarily functions to modify verbs or adjectives, indicating the degree to which an action is not fully carried out or a quality is not fully realized. Ludwig AI confirms this function through numerous examples where "incompletely" modifies verbs like "understood", "utilized", and "described".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incompletely" functions as an adverb used to express that something is not fully done or is lacking essential parts. Ludwig AI affirms that this word is grammatically correct and frequently appears in academic, scientific, and journalistic contexts. When writing, consider whether "incompletely" is the most precise term or if alternatives like "partially" or "imperfectly" might better suit the context. Although the term appears frequently in encyclopedias, news and media and science, be sure not to overuse this word and to instead select the adverb that accurately portrays the specific degree of incompleteness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially

Indicates something is done to some extent, but not entirely.

not fully

Emphasizes the lack of completeness.

not entirely

Similar to "not fully", stressing the absence of totality.

imperfectly

Highlights the presence of flaws or shortcomings.

deficiently

Focuses on the inadequacy or lack of something necessary.

sketchily

Describes something lacking in detail or thoroughness.

fragmentarily

Indicates something is presented in incomplete pieces or fragments.

roughly

Suggests an approximation or lack of precision.

superficially

Implies a lack of depth or thorough investigation.

in a limited way

Emphasizes restrictions or constraints on completeness.

FAQs

How can I use "incompletely" in a sentence?

You can use "incompletely" to describe something that is not fully finished or lacks certain elements. For example: "The instructions were "incompletely explained", so I struggled to assemble the product."

What are some alternatives to using "incompletely"?

Alternatives to "incompletely" include phrases like "partially", "not fully", or "imperfectly", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "incompletely done"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct, but it might sound redundant. Consider alternatives such as "partially done" or "unfinished", which might be more concise.

What's the difference between "incompletely" and "imperfectly"?

"Incompletely" suggests that something is lacking parts or is unfinished, while "imperfectly" implies that something has flaws or isn't up to standard. For instance, a task can be "incompletely executed" if steps are missing, but "imperfectly executed" even with all steps completed, if there are errors.