leave undone

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave undone" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something has not been completed or finished. Example: "He decided to leave the project undone until he had more time." Alternative expressions include "not completed," "left unfinished," and "remained pending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"What the bankers leave undone their lawyer minions supply".He was, though, no socialist.

The Economist

"There just isn't any excuse for what I do wrong or leave undone.

The New York Times

[T]he plaintiff, in advance, has given his express consent to relieve the defendant of an obligation of conduct toward him, and to take his chances of injury from a known risk arising from what the defendant is to do or leave undone.

Harvard University

The "superior virtue" of Daoism is a latent power that never lays claim to its achievements; it is the "mysterious power" (xuande) of Dao present in the heart of the sage—"persons of superior virtue never act (wuwei), and yet there is nothing they leave undone".

Encyclopedia Britannica

They also understand that this work is too important to leave undone, and that there is no time like the present to do it.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But much is left undone.

The New York Times

There's not much left undone.

The New York Times

The list of things he has left undone is long.

The Economist

Then there are the task Lula left undone.

The Economist

Service is herky-jerky with many essentials left undone.

The New York Times

So much accomplished and so much left undone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leave undone", ensure it's clear what specific action or task remains uncompleted. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "leave undone" when the omission was intentional and justified. The phrase often carries a negative connotation of negligence or oversight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave undone" functions as a verb phrase, typically following an auxiliary verb (like 'to') and indicating the state of something not being completed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leave undone" is a phrase used to describe something that remains incomplete, often with a connotation of negligence or oversight. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with limited presence in encyclopedias and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the unfinished task to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "leave incomplete" or "fail to complete" may be suitable depending on the specific context. Although the phrase is correct, it's relatively rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave incomplete

Directly states that something is not finished.

neglect to complete

Focuses on the negligence aspect of not finishing a task.

fail to accomplish

Highlights the failure to achieve a specific goal or task.

not carry out

Indicates a failure to execute or perform a task.

omit to perform

Emphasizes the act of intentionally or unintentionally leaving something out.

let lapse

Implies allowing something to expire or become invalid through neglect.

overlook performing

Suggests that a task was missed or forgotten.

shirk responsibility for

Highlights the avoidance of a duty or obligation.

default on fulfilling

Emphasizes the failure to meet an expectation or obligation.

leave unattended

Implies a lack of care or attention leading to incompletion.

FAQs

How to use "leave undone" in a sentence?

The phrase "leave undone" is used to describe something that has not been completed or accomplished. For instance, "They understand that this work is too important to "leave undone", and that there is no time like the present to do it."

What can I say instead of "leave undone"?

You can use alternatives like "leave incomplete", "fail to complete", or "neglect to complete" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "leave undone" or "left undone"?

"Leave undone" implies a decision to not complete something, while "left undone" refers to something that remains incomplete, often passively. They can be used in similar contexts, but "left undone" often implies less intentionality.

What's the difference between "leave undone" and "abandon"?

"Leave undone" suggests a task was started but not finished, while "abandon" implies a complete and often permanent cessation of effort. Abandoning a project is a stronger action than simply leaving it undone.