pending the completion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'pending the completion of' is a correct and usable phrase in written English, and it means that something will remain until something else is done.
For example: The construction work on the new bridge will remain pending the completion of the official paperwork.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The White House declined to discuss intelligence policies, pending the completion of a review of intelligence-gathering practices that will be completed in December.

The New York Times

They remained suspended pending the completion of the airline's investigation.

The New York Times

The deal is pending the completion of a physical.

The New York Times

Ford said Mr. Bennett remained on leave, pending the completion of its investigation.

The New York Times

Dell said its financial results were preliminary, pending the completion of its accounting inquiry.

The New York Times - Tech

His assistant, Douglas Faneuil, was also suspended pending the completion of the investigation.

The New York Times

The school initially expelled four students, but readmitted them pending the completion of the investigation.

The New York Times

Alstom suspended the senior vice president and vice president for finance of the unit pending the completion of its review.

The New York Times

The Patriots agreed on a one-year deal worth $12 million, pending the completion of a physical.

The Guardian - Sport

It was Cashman, not Girardi, who confirmed the makeup of the staff, pending the completion of contract talks.

The New York Times - Sports

In a statement, the ITF said that it could not comment further on the four officials are who currently suspended pending the completion of ongoing investigations.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pending the completion of" when you want to clearly state that an action or decision is temporarily delayed until something else is finished. Ensure the context makes it clear what the 'completion' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "pending the completion of" if the 'completion' is vaguely defined or has ambiguous criteria. Always ensure that what needs to be 'completed' is clearly understood to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pending the completion of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun. It indicates a state of suspension or delay until a specific action or task is finished. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pending the completion of" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is temporarily delayed until a specific task or process is finished. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's used across various contexts, but is particularly prevalent in news and media, formal business, and scientific writing. While generally suitable for neutral to professional registers, clarity is key to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives like "until the completion of" offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until the completion of

Replaces "pending" with "until", emphasizing the temporal aspect of the condition.

subject to the completion of

Emphasizes that the action is conditional upon the completion.

dependent on the completion of

Highlights the reliance of one event on the completion of another.

awaiting the fulfillment of

Focuses on the expectation and anticipation of the completion.

conditional on the achievement of

Similar to 'subject to' but emphasizes the 'achievement' of a milestone.

contingent upon the finalization of

Replaces 'completion' with 'finalization', stressing the final stage.

held back until the culmination of

Suggests a deliberate holding back until the final point.

in anticipation of the ending of

Shifts the focus to looking forward to the ending of something.

provisional until finalized

Uses a more direct adjective, indicating a temporary status.

to be determined upon completing

Expresses that a decision will be made once something is finished.

FAQs

How can I use "pending the completion of" in a sentence?

You can use "pending the completion of" to indicate that something is waiting for something else to finish. For example, "The project is on hold, pending the completion of the environmental impact assessment".

What's a formal alternative to "pending the completion of"?

A formal alternative includes "subject to the completion of". This emphasizes the conditional nature of the situation.

Is it correct to say 'pending to complete' instead of "pending the completion of"?

No, "pending to complete" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "pending the completion of", where "completion" is a noun.

What's the difference between "pending the completion of" and "after the completion of"?

"Pending the completion of" means 'while waiting for completion', implying a temporary state. "After the completion of" indicates something happens once the completion is done.