it was completing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was completing" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe an action that was in progress, but it is not commonly used in this form. Example: "The project was completing ahead of schedule."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Ironically, though, Merrill wouldn't need that capital because it was completing its deal with Bank of America.

The New York Times

As it was completing its work, the panel received a secret report from the National Counterintelligence Center, a federal group that seeks to outwit spies.

The New York Times

Mr. Buffett did not say what company that was, and Berkshire announced yesterday morning that it was completing its tender offer for stock in the Xtra Corporation, a company that leases a variety of transportation equipment.

The New York Times

Italy's biggest insurance company, Assicurazioni Generali Group, has yet to divest or curtail coverage for coal, but a spokesman told HuffPost it was completing an internal audit to determine the scope of its exposure to the fuel.

HuffPost

In the 1960's, it was completing eighth grade.

The New York Times

"He asked me what was the college's highest priority, and I told him it was completing a new chemistry building.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

It was completed a year later.

The New York Times

It was completed in 1931.

The New York Times

It was completed in 2004.

The New York Times

It was completed in 1862.

The New York Times

It was completed last October.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an action that is in the process of finalizing, use the passive voice. Example: It was being completed.

Common error

Avoid using the present continuous tense with the verb "complete" when describing a past action; instead, use a form like "it was being completed" or a synonym like "finishing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was completing" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe an action in progress. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is not grammatically correct in standard English and is better replaced with alternative phrasing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was completing" appears in a variety of sources, ranging from news articles to academic papers, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard English. The intended meaning is to describe an action moving towards completion. Better alternatives include phrases like "it was finishing", "it was concluding", or "it was being completed". Pay attention to context and aim for grammatical correctness by utilizing appropriate synonyms or rephrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was finalizing

Replaces "completing" with a synonym that also implies the action of finishing something.

it was in the process of completing

Adds emphasis to the ongoing nature of the completion.

it was finishing

A simpler and more common way to say something was in the process of ending.

it was nearing completion

Highlights that the action is close to being done, but not yet.

it was being completed

Uses the passive voice to emphasize the action being performed on "it."

it was concluding

Suggests a more formal or official sense of bringing something to an end.

it was coming to an end

Similar to "drawing to a close," but slightly more direct.

it was wrapping up

An informal way to describe the end of a process or activity.

it was drawing to a close

A more descriptive and figurative way of saying something was ending.

it was putting the finishing touches on

Emphasizes the final stages of preparation or completion.

FAQs

Is "it was completing" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "it was completing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. More appropriate alternatives include "it was finishing" or "it was concluding".

What are some alternatives to "it was completing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "it was finalizing", "it was wrapping up", or "it was drawing to a close".

When should I use "it was being completed" instead of "it was completing"?

Use "it was being completed" when you want to emphasize that something was in the process of being finished by someone or something. This uses the passive voice, which is often more appropriate than "it was completing".

What's the difference between "it was completing" and "it was finished"?

"It was finished" indicates that something has reached its end point. "It was completing" attempts to describe an action in progress toward finalization, but it's not considered grammatically sound; thus using it can cause confusion. Instead, try "it was being completed".