outstanding tasks

USAGE SUMMARY

'outstanding tasks' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to talk about tasks that are unfinished and need to be completed, especially ones in a list. For example: "We have a few outstanding tasks that need to be finished before the project is complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Fernández framed this as one of the outstanding tasks still undone in the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy.

The Guardian

Before you do, write a note to yourself listing outstanding tasks or any work things that are on your mind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Create an Excel spreadsheet, Gantt chart or simple handwritten "To do list" of outstanding tasks along with expected completion dates and deadlines.

The Guardian

I don't like having outstanding tasks, and although PC members know that many reviews are last minute, it is still nervous-making.

Cornell University

When I managed a small team, there were days I'd walk out of the office with zero outstanding tasks left — my inbox was cleared, my to-dos were crossed off, and nothing else needed my attention.

Harvard Business Review

(Ashish Jaiswal, PhD in business education, University of Oxford) 4) Use apps "Trello is a project management tool (available as a smartphone app) which allows you to create 'boards' on which to pin all of your outstanding tasks, deadlines, and ideas.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Raúl's other outstanding task is grooming a successor.

The Guardian

Mr Obama and his team believe that his outstanding task is to secure a domestic legacy.

The Economist

The outstanding task is to design a hardware platform that allows a large number of quantum components to couple through intended and controllable channels, while suppressing any other interactions.

Nature

If you need to send a thank you note, it's active; if there's no outstanding task, it's reference, even if it's the kind of reference material you might affix to your fridge instead of filing away.

The Guardian - Tech

Calibration and validation of the model against experiments for specific rocks is an outstanding task.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When listing "outstanding tasks", prioritize them based on urgency and importance to maintain focus and efficiency.

Common error

While technically correct, "outstanding tasks" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Use simpler alternatives like "things to do" or "unfinished business" to better suit the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding tasks" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "outstanding" modifies the noun "tasks". This phrase typically serves to identify and categorize actions or duties that have not yet been completed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstanding tasks" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that refers to tasks that remain to be completed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a noun phrase with an adjective modifier and is employed to inform or remind about unfinished work, often in project management and organizational contexts. While versatile, its tone leans toward neutral to professional, being less common in informal settings. Related phrases include "unfinished duties" and "pending assignments". It's important to prioritize these tasks and consider simpler language for casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfinished duties

Replaces "tasks" with "duties", emphasizing obligation or responsibility.

pending assignments

Substitutes "outstanding" with "pending" and "tasks" with "assignments", highlighting tasks that are waiting to be addressed.

incomplete responsibilities

Uses "incomplete" to convey the unfinished nature and "responsibilities" to emphasize the obligatory aspect.

remaining tasks

Replaces "outstanding" with "remaining", focusing on what is left to be done.

uncompleted items

Emphasizes the lack of completion with "uncompleted" and uses "items" as a more general term for tasks.

tasks in progress

Shifts the focus to tasks that have started but not finished.

to-do items

A more informal alternative, often used in personal task management.

unfinished business

Idiomatic expression implying tasks or issues that need resolution.

open issues

Highlights unresolved matters or problems that require attention.

backlog of tasks

Implies a collection of tasks waiting to be processed, often in project management.

FAQs

How can I use "outstanding tasks" in a sentence?

You can use "outstanding tasks" to refer to tasks that have not yet been completed. For example, "Before the end of the week, we need to address all the "remaining tasks"".

What are some alternatives to "outstanding tasks"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "unfinished duties", "pending assignments", or ""remaining tasks"".

Is it better to say "outstanding tasks" or "overdue tasks"?

The choice depends on the situation. "Outstanding tasks" simply means tasks that are not yet completed, while "overdue tasks" implies that the tasks were due in the past and are now late.

What's the difference between "outstanding tasks" and "tasks in progress"?

"Outstanding tasks" refers to all tasks that have not been completed, including those not yet started. "Tasks in progress" specifically refers to tasks that are currently being worked on.