is substantially complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is substantially complete" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is nearly finished or has reached a significant level of completion, often in formal or technical contexts. Example: "The project is substantially complete, and we are now preparing for the final review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The operation is substantially complete.

The Guardian

The subject project is substantially complete.

The New York Times

The next hurdle for NRG, in about 60 days, is for the regulatory commission to determine that the application is substantially complete, and accept it for processing.

The New York Times

Jackson Pollock and the other "big picture" Abstract Expressionists had, without necessarily intending to, sparked a revolution in art as design: painting that is substantially complete in its initiating idea.

The New Yorker

In an email sent to reporters and seen by the Guardian, the media tycoon said he had been told "by the MSC that its work on the Sun is substantially complete" – and, reinforcing repeated claims made by the MSC, added that the handing over of any company emails to the police "has at all times been strictly confined to evidence of possible illegal acts".

The Guardian

Still, the nonfiction manuscript is substantially complete.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He said construction of the second tower would begin once the first was substantially complete.

The New York Times

This should be substantially complete by the end of the year.Finishing the sequence, however, is merely the start.

The Economist

Celera argues that in a finished genome the coding regions should be substantially complete and the order of all the fragments on the chromosomes should be known.

The New York Times

The Kapoor sculpture is expected to be substantially complete by July 16, though technical components of the Plensa fountain will likely need more work.

The New York Times - Travel

The new request, however, is minuscule in comparison to past quarters, buttressing a recent federal report that found the bailout of the companies may be substantially complete.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is substantially complete" to convey a high degree of completion without implying absolute perfection. This is especially useful in technical or legal contexts where minor issues might still exist.

Common error

Avoid using "is substantially complete" when the project or task still requires significant work. This can lead to miscommunication and unmet expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is substantially complete" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a noun as being near completion. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is substantially complete" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey that something is near its final stages. According to Ludwig AI, its purpose is to indicate a high degree of completion while acknowledging the potential for minor outstanding items. The phrase finds its place in formal contexts, as seen in news reports, scientific papers, and business communications, as well as informal contexts such as Wikipedia. When precision is key but absolute perfection isn't mandatory, "is substantially complete" is the appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is nearly complete

Indicates a slightly lesser degree of completion than the original phrase.

is almost finished

Emphasizes the approaching end of a process or task.

is largely finished

Suggests the majority of the work is done, with only minor tasks remaining.

is practically complete

Highlights that the remaining tasks are insignificant or easily handled.

is effectively finished

Focuses on the functional completion, even if some minor details are pending.

is nearing completion

Highlights the ongoing process of approaching full completion.

is approaching completion

Similar to 'nearing completion', but with a slightly more gradual sense.

is close to being finished

A more verbose way of saying 'is nearly complete'.

is on the verge of completion

Emphasizes the imminence of the completion.

is in the final stages

Indicates that the process is at its last steps.

FAQs

How can I use "is substantially complete" in a sentence?

You can use "is substantially complete" to describe something that is nearly finished but might have minor details pending. For example: "The building construction "is substantially complete", and only a few finishing touches remain".

What phrases are similar to "is substantially complete"?

Similar phrases include "is nearly complete", "is almost finished", or "is largely finished". These all suggest a high degree of completion.

Is it correct to say "is substantially completed"?

While "is substantially completed" isn't incorrect, "is substantially complete" is more common and often preferred. The latter emphasizes the state of being complete, whereas the former emphasizes the act of completing.

What's the difference between "is substantially complete" and "is completely finished"?

"Is completely finished" implies 100% completion with no remaining tasks. "Is substantially complete" suggests a very high degree of completion, but allows for the possibility of minor outstanding items.