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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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substantively complete

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'substantively complete' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is almost fully formed or completely present in its essential form. For example, "The report was substantively complete, though there were a few small changes left to make before it was finished."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even the Pentagon maintains a well-researched and substantively complete list of the top national security threats, including climate change.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After permission from the relevant authorities was granted, the Connect2 Kenilworth project was substantively completed in September 2011 with creation of the access across Kenilworth Common and the installation of the bridge over the A429 Coventry Road.

Science

BMJ Open

Results were substantively unchanged for the complete case analysis, using an indicator for self-reported BMI, and when not doubly weighting the supermarkets.

"I handed in my cut," he said, "and when CBS said they wanted to make changes, I said, 'Let me see it when it's done.' " It is unusual for a network to start substantively re-editing a completed film only weeks before it is scheduled to be shown.

Finally, we used multiple imputation to repeat the analyses to include 888 subjects with missing depression scores, which did not substantively change the results from the complete data analyses.

For LOCF analysis, the between group effects were not statistically or substantively different from those reported for the complete case analysis.

However, the number of available runs was similar for high- and low-risk youth and results were substantively the same when analyses included only participants who had complete data.

We completed interview recruiting once saturation was reached (e.g., new interviews were not substantively adding to our analysis).

And substantively at times".

News & Media

The Guardian

"Substantively, the bill is abysmal.

News & Media

The New Yorker

This makes little sense, substantively.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantively complete" when you want to convey that something is complete in its most important aspects, even if minor details are still outstanding.

Common error

Avoid using "substantively complete" if significant elements are still missing. The phrase implies a high degree of completeness, so ensure this is accurate.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantively complete" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is valid. It describes the state of something that is largely or essentially finished.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantively complete" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that indicates something is essentially or largely complete. Although relatively rare, its appearance in news and media, and scientific contexts suggests a formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject is indeed complete in its most important aspects, even if minor details remain. Consider alternatives like "essentially complete" or "virtually complete" to fine-tune the meaning.

FAQs

What does "substantively complete" mean?

It means that something is complete in its core or essential elements, even if minor details may be pending.

When is it appropriate to use "substantively complete"?

Use it when the major components of a task, project, or document are finished, and only minor refinements remain.

What are some alternatives to "substantively complete"?

You can use alternatives like "essentially complete", "largely complete", or "virtually complete" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How does "substantively complete" differ from "completely finished"?

"Completely finished" implies that every single aspect is done. "Substantively complete" suggests that the key aspects are done, but minor things may still need addressing.

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Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: