let me complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "let me complete" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to ask for permission to finish what you are saying or doing, often in a conversation or presentation context. Example: "Before you interrupt, let me complete my thought on this matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"I'll give you the microphone in a moment, but let me complete.

The New York Times

Listen, I'll give you the microphone in a moment, but let me complete.

The New York Times

The site was behaving poorly, however, and would not display images of the items or let me complete the sale online.

The New York Times - Tech

We agreed that he'd let me complete my medical studies, provided I continued to listen to him, and not consider all his ideas just as wacky," Lees told the Guardian.

The Guardian - Books

Now let me complete each story and give you some context.

Huffington Post

"I would love to go to secondary school, but my mother says that she will let me complete only grade 9," says Seng Srey fighting back her tears.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

So please stay with me and let me finish my complete thought before responding...b/c i'm ANNOYED.

Huffington Post

I just want to doggedly do the work (assuming that my calves, hamstrings and quads cooperate) that will let me successfully complete 26 miles 385 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

The county of Los Angeles wants to let me, a complete degenerate, participate in the judicial process and give me enough scratch to buy one flavorless sandwich per day at the courthouse snack bar?

Vice

I know, the first thing that people think of when lampooning the media is the snarky, Nancy Grace [slams] -- "Let me be a complete a with my journalism!" It's not making fun of smart, good journalism.

Huffington Post

Never feeling appreciated: Let me guess: You have completed projects with spectacular results (or have at least made very laudable progress), but you haven't heard an "attaboy" or "attagirl" in quite some time.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "let me complete" in a formal setting, ensure your tone remains respectful and professional. Avoid using it in a demanding or impatient manner.

Common error

While "let me complete" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in casual conversations where simpler alternatives like "let me finish" may sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let me complete" functions as a request for permission to finish a task or express a thought in its entirety. It's commonly used to seek the opportunity to provide a full explanation or to conclude an action without interruption, as seen in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "let me complete" is a grammatically correct and usable request for permission to finish something, whether it's a thought, task, or action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not exceedingly common, it appears mostly in news, business, and scientific contexts, maintaining a neutral to slightly formal register. When writing, it is best to use this phrase with a tone that remains respectful and professional, especially in formal settings. Simpler alternatives like "let me finish" might be more suitable for casual conversations. Closely related alternatives are "allow me to finish" or "permit me to conclude".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow me to finish

Emphasizes the permission aspect more strongly.

permit me to conclude

More formal and often used in presentations or formal speeches.

let me finish my point

Specifically refers to completing an argument or idea.

allow me to wrap up

Suggests bringing something to a final conclusion.

let me finalize this

Focuses on the act of making something final or complete.

give me a moment to finish

Requests a brief pause to complete something.

let me see this through

Implies a commitment to finishing something despite obstacles.

let me bring this to a close

Signifies the act of formally ending a discussion or presentation.

let me fulfill this

Emphasizes completing an obligation or promise.

let me perform this

Focuses on completing a specific action or task, often performance-related.

FAQs

What is the difference between "let me complete" and "let me finish"?

While both phrases express a desire to conclude something, "let me complete" suggests a more thorough or comprehensive conclusion, whereas "let me finish" is more general. You can also use "allow me to finish".

How can I politely ask someone to let me finish speaking?

You can say "Excuse me, could you "allow me to finish" my thought?" or "If I could just "complete what I was saying"...". Avoid interrupting or raising your voice.

When is it appropriate to use "let me complete" in writing?

"Let me complete" is suitable in formal writing, such as business reports, academic papers, or formal correspondence, where a clear and comprehensive conclusion is necessary.

What are some alternatives to "let me complete" for a presentation?

In a presentation, you might use phrases like "permit me to conclude", "allow me to wrap up", or "let me bring this to a close" to signal the end of a section or the entire presentation.