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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
remained to do
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "remained to do" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express that there are tasks or actions that are still pending or unfinished. Example: "After completing the first two chapters, there remained to do the final chapter before the deadline."
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
His nickname was the "Angel of Death" because he toured the country urging men to join up, and encouraging those who remained to do their duty to assist the troops.
News & Media
No time remained to do those studies, however.
Science & Research
Much work remained to do in creating a federal government.
Wiki
The only thing that remained to do before loading Sailfish onto the device was to find a SIM card that fit.
News & Media
After one lengthy interview I remained to do picture research while Kate left for her routine weekend trip to her family's country home in Fenwick, Connecticut.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
"Enough troops remain to do the job," the diplomat said.
News & Media
Taking into account the current available results, we see that more research efforts remain to do on control and network QoS co-design and on the development of on-line adaptive QoS mechanisms.
Science
When most officials implicated in past crimes are purged or "lustrated", few competent administrators remain to do the work of government.
Science
Then all that would remain to do would be to put in a call to Sony and tell them we had created the PlayStation mascot.
News & Media
I'd remain to do my duties during the 11 a.m. service.
News & Media
Nothing remained to be done at that level.
Academia
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "remained to do", consider if a more direct and common phrase like "still had to do" or "left to do" would improve clarity and flow in your writing.
Common error
Avoid using "remained to do" in contexts where an active voice construction would be more concise and impactful. For example, instead of "Much work remained to be done", consider "We still had much work to do."
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "remained to do" functions as a verbal phrase that typically introduces information about what still needs attention or completion. Although acceptable, Ludwig AI shows that other options are more popular and more effective in written English.
Frequent in
News & Media
42%
Science
33%
Wiki
8%
Less common in
Formal & Business
8%
Encyclopedias
1%
Academia
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "remained to do" is a grammatically acceptable but less common way to express that tasks or actions are unfinished. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as infrequent. While understandable in a variety of contexts, from news to scientific articles, more direct alternatives like "still had to do" or "left to do" are usually preferred. When writing, consider if a more straightforward expression might improve clarity and impact.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
still needed to be done
Focuses on the necessity of completing the tasks, adding a sense of requirement.
still had to do
Emphasizes obligation or requirement to complete the tasks.
left to do
Highlights the remaining nature of the tasks; simpler phrasing.
outstanding tasks
Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase, focusing on the unfinished tasks themselves.
yet to be completed
Formal and emphasizes the incompletion of the tasks.
still undone
Directly describes the state of the tasks as not completed.
unfinished business
Idiomatic and highlights the pending or incomplete state of affairs.
remaining actions
Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase, focusing on actions that are remaining.
to be done
Shorter alternative, focusing on the actions that need to occur.
actions outstanding
Focuses on the actions and the idea of outstanding.
FAQs
What does "remained to do" mean?
The phrase "remained to do" suggests that there are tasks or actions that still need to be completed or addressed. It implies something is left unfinished.
How can I use "remained to do" in a sentence?
You can use it to describe pending tasks. For instance, "After the initial cleanup, some tidying "left to do"/ "still had to do"."
What are some alternatives to "remained to do"?
Some alternatives include "still had to do", "left to do", or "yet to be done". The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.
Is "remained to do" grammatically correct?
Yes, it's grammatically acceptable, although not the most common phrasing. More direct alternatives like "still had to do" are often preferred for better clarity.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested