left to be finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left to be finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is incomplete and requires further work or attention. Example: "The project is almost complete, but there are still a few sections left to be finished before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

These directors are leaving when Yahoo's hard work is still left to be finished.

The New York Times

"It essentially involves a process where [a] product is cooked to the part where the interior is complete and there is a commencement of the baking of the crust, which is left to be finished by Coles," said Colin Golvan SC, for the ACCC.

The Guardian - Business

From a technical perspective, the largest chunk left to be finished is affinity grouping – taking the atomized identity and social metadata and organizing micro-communities that can act as power brokers in the new information model Mesh creates.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

By this time, he had established himself as one of the most versatile actors around and he continued to demonstrate this ebullient versatility until his death last October (leaving this memoir to be finished from his notes by his wife).

The Guardian - Books

The teams were scoreless for almost the next two minutes, and when Houston had a pass intercepted by Jamal Mashburn (20 points) with 50 seconds left, the Knicks appeared to be finished.

The New York Times - Sports

That is, assuming there are no delays, aircraft maintenance issues, weather problems, or other headaches, the US would need to start the process of leaving Afghanistan by September 20 to be finished by December 31.

Vice

Always be sure to stick to your time limits by prioritizing and leaving less important things to be finished when it's cooler.

WikiHow

The ship, which left BAE Systems Portsmouthh yard, is due to be finished in 2017 and will be followed by sister ship Prince of Wales.

BBC

The first building is supposed to offer 181 units of affordable rental apartments, which leaves more than 2,000 affordable units to be finished by 2031.

The New York Times

Work is proceeding rapidly and both presidents would like it to be finished before they leave office in 2011.

The Economist

Work can often seem like one long chain of looming deadlines daily duties need to be finished by the time you leave each day, minor projects need to be finished by the end of the week, major projects need to be finished by the end of the month, and so on.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "left to be finished", ensure it's clear who or what is responsible for completing the remaining work. This avoids ambiguity and promotes accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "left to be finished" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of saying "The report was left to be finished by the team", consider "The team still needs to finish the report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left to be finished" functions as a passive construction indicating an incomplete action or task that requires further attention. It highlights what remains undone. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis of various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "left to be finished" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that something is incomplete and requires further action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples across different sources. While not extremely frequent, it is commonly found in news articles and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding who or what is responsible for completing the task. Alternatives like "remaining to be completed" or "yet to be completed" can be considered for more formal contexts. Avoid using it when an active voice construction would be more direct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining to be completed

Focuses on the act of completing, similar to finishing.

yet to be completed

Emphasizes that the task is still in the future.

still needs to be done

A more direct and informal way of saying something isn't complete.

awaiting completion

Highlights the state of waiting for the task to be done.

incomplete

A single word adjective describing the state.

unfinished

Another adjective describing the state of being not finished.

outstanding tasks

Focuses on the tasks themselves that are not yet complete.

work in progress

Indicates an ongoing process with remaining work.

to be finalized

Emphasizes the need for a final step or approval.

tasks to address

Highlights the need to deal with these tasks specifically.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "left to be finished" in a more formal way?

For more formal alternatives to "left to be finished", consider using phrases like "remaining to be completed" or "yet to be completed". These options often suit professional or academic contexts better.

Is it correct to say "left to finish" instead of "left to be finished"?

While "left to finish" might be understood, it lacks the passive construction that emphasizes the incomplete state. "Left to be finished" is grammatically more precise when indicating something requires further work.

What's the difference between "unfinished" and "left to be finished"?

"Unfinished" is a direct adjective describing something not complete. "Left to be finished" implies a process or task that someone needs to complete. For example, "the unfinished painting" versus "the painting is left to be finished by the artist".

How to use "left to be finished" in a sentence?

You can use "left to be finished" to describe tasks, projects, or even processes that are not yet complete. For instance, "The final report is "remaining to be completed" before the end of the week".