must have completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must have completed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that has already been done in the past. For example: "He must have completed the project by now; he said it only needed a few more days."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To qualify as "treatment completers", patients must have completed treatment according to the treatment programme protocols [ 19].

European Respiratory Journal

The institute is run by Gary Kraftsow; applicants must have completed 500 hours of his teacher training.

The New York Times

Racers must have completed a half-Ironman in less than seven hours in the previous 18 months or the Shawangunks race previously.

The New York Times - Sports

You will begin to imagine the rigorous training program that they must have completed to achieve such mastery of the art and science of expert moving; iii.

The New Yorker

Applicants must have completed 15 high school credits; foreign students must be literate in some language past a primary-school level.

The New York Times

As Oresme became grand master of the college in 1356, he must have completed his doctorate in theology before this date.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You will begin to imagine the rigorous training program that they must have completed to achieve such mastery of the art and science of expert moving;         iii.

The New Yorker

Syria will appoint a point person within the Syrian regime for chemical weapons and by November 1 must have completed the destruction of all chemical weapon production and mixing/filling facilities, the draft states.

The Guardian

According to the group's former president Charles Iadanza, to become a full member of SPI you must have completed at least five years of investigative service in law enforcement or seven years as a licensed private investigator.

The New Yorker

For truck purchase discounts, carriers must have completed at least 10 loads using Uber Freight.

TechCrunch

The successful applicant must have completed the Ph.D. requirements before assuming the fellowship.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must have completed" to indicate a high degree of certainty that an action was finished in the past, especially when inferring based on present evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "must have completed" to describe future actions. This phrase is exclusively for past events or actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must have completed" functions as a modal perfect construction, expressing a high degree of certainty or logical inference about an action that was finished in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must have completed" is a versatile and grammatically sound modal perfect construction used to express a high degree of certainty about a past action. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase effectively conveys logical inferences based on available evidence. When using "must have completed", remember that it always refers to past actions and implies a strong conviction. Consider using alternatives like "had to finish" or "was required to complete" to fine-tune the nuance of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had to finish

Emphasizes obligation or requirement to complete something in the past.

was required to complete

Highlights the necessity of completing a task due to a rule or regulation.

should have finished

Suggests an expectation of completion, potentially with a hint of mild reproach if not done.

needed to finalize

Focuses on the need to bring something to its final state.

ought to have concluded

Implies a moral or logical obligation to have finished something.

should have wrapped up

Suggests an informal expectation of completion.

was obliged to complete

Highlights a formal or legal obligation to finish something.

had a duty to complete

Emphasizes the responsibility to have finished a task.

was bound to complete

Suggests a strong commitment or agreement to finish something.

was slated to complete

Indicates a planned or scheduled completion.

FAQs

How can I use "must have completed" in a sentence?

Use "must have completed" to express a strong inference that something was finished in the past, based on current information. For example: "He "must have completed" the marathon; he's wearing the finisher's medal."

What's a more formal way to say "must have completed"?

A more formal alternative to "must have completed" could be "was required to complete" or "was obliged to complete", depending on the context. These phrases emphasize the necessity or obligation to finish the task.

What's the difference between "must have completed" and "should have completed"?

"Must have completed" indicates a strong belief that something is already finished. "Should have completed" implies that something was expected to be finished, but it's uncertain if it actually was.

What can I say instead of "must have completed" when expressing a requirement?

If you want to express a requirement, you can use phrases like "had to finish", "was required to complete", or "needed to finalize" as alternatives to ""must have completed"".