nearly complete

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly complete" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is mostly or almost finished, but not totally finished. For example, "The construction of the new bridge is nearly complete, so the road should open to traffic by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

4 aspect nearly complete: Will completely finished next turn.

WikiHow

Bosnia's tragedy is nearly complete.

The New Yorker

The process is nearly complete.

The Economist

It looks good — nearly complete.

The New York Times

Mr. Jeremy Bentham sits, nearly complete.

The New Yorker

His latest comeback appeared nearly complete.

The New York Times

Stopping nearly complete adoptions is cruel.

The New York Times

Designs on his signature Nike shoe are nearly complete.

The New York Times - Sports

The next step of this discreet masterplan is nearly complete.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The eyes staring over the expressway were nearly complete.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Galileo (nearly-complete copy) of D. virilis was used.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly complete" to convey a sense of optimism and progress, especially when a project or task is nearing its end. For example, instead of saying "the project is still ongoing", you can say "the project is nearly complete", which gives a more positive outlook.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly complete" when significant portions of a task remain unfinished. Overstating progress can mislead stakeholders and create unrealistic expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly complete" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that something is in an advanced state of completion, as Ludwig AI confirms in its analysis. The phrase suggests a state that is just shy of being fully finished.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

35%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly complete" is a descriptive adjective phrase indicating that something is in an advanced stage of completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and broadly usable. It commonly appears in contexts such as News & Media and Science, serving to convey information about progress, manage expectations, or provide reassurance. Given its frequent occurrence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist, it is a reliable and versatile option for expressing near completion. For alternatives, you might consider "almost finished" or "virtually complete", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost finished

Focuses on the finishing aspect, implying a task is close to being done.

virtually complete

Emphasizes the high degree of completion, suggesting only minor elements are missing.

practically finished

Highlights that for all practical purposes, the task is done.

close to completion

Indicates that the process is nearing its final stages.

nearing completion

Similar to 'close to completion' but emphasizes the ongoing process of approaching completion.

essentially complete

Highlights the core elements are done, minor details may be pending.

substantially complete

Indicates a significant portion of the work is finalized.

largely complete

Similar to 'substantially complete', but with a slightly broader implication.

almost all done

Informal way of saying the work is near completion.

approaching completion

Focuses on the trajectory towards being complete.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly complete" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly complete" to describe something that is close to being finished but not entirely so. For instance, "The construction of the building is "nearly complete", and we expect to open it next month".

What are some alternatives to "nearly complete"?

Alternatives include "almost finished", "virtually complete", or "close to completion". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of completion you want to emphasize.

Is it better to say "nearly complete" or "almost complete"?

Both "nearly complete" and "almost complete" are acceptable, but "nearly complete" may sound slightly more formal. The choice often depends on personal preference and the tone you want to convey.

What does "nearly complete" imply about the remaining work?

"Nearly complete" suggests that the majority of the work is done and only minor tasks or details remain to be finalized. It implies that the end is in sight and the remaining effort is relatively small.