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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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the completing

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the completing" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to the act of completing something, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "The completing of the project took longer than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

At the study level, the completing and non-completing together (N = 277 total) submitted 85.4% (N = 59,967) of the 69,804 (277 × 252) diaries expected.

Thus, based on the description, both demographic and completion rate, of the completer sample (N = 243) and the non-completer sample (N = 34), we concentrated the remaining analyses only on the completing group, as they provided full information at each study period in terms of answers to the survey questions.

What is nearly finished now, awaiting the fixing of lights and the completing of tunnels and underpasses, stretches about 2.4 miles.

News & Media

The New York Times

SECURING SPACE * Support for the completing the acquisition and establishment of a new 58,000 acre wildlife protected area in West Laikipia, the Loisaba Conservancy.

News & Media

Independent

"Charge has brought together leading local and global voices in girls' education to create a movement of change agents committed to the completing the unfinished work in girls' education through projects that let communities lead," she says.

News & Media

The Guardian

In addition to developing the Completing a Life CD-ROM, Dr. Bricker created quick computer access to doctors' notes and end-of-life documents from patients' medical files at the Henry Ford Health System, which has more than 20 centers.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

And the completed building?

News & Media

The Economist

The completes the proof.

The completed Hale Mahinui Treehouse.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Sign the completed application.

Varnish the completed box.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "the completing" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically standard alternatives like "the completion" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is using "the" before a gerund when a noun or infinitive would be more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "the completing the task was difficult", consider "completing the task was difficult" or "the completion of the task was difficult".

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the completing" attempts to function as a noun phrase, referring to the act of finishing something. However, Ludwig AI flags it as potentially incorrect, as the gerund "completing" typically doesn't follow "the" in standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the completing" is a grammatically questionable construction that attempts to function as a noun phrase, referring to the act of finishing something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered standard English, so while it may appear in some contexts like science, news, and wiki articles, it's rare and generally advised to avoid it in formal writing. Better alternatives include using "the completion", rephrasing the sentence with a verb, or using a different noun altogether. The best practice is to opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives for clarity and professionalism.

FAQs

Is "the completing" grammatically correct?

No, "the completing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate phrasing would be "the completion" or simply rephrasing the sentence to use a verb.

What are some alternatives to "the completing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "the completion", "completing", or rephrase the sentence to use a verb form such as "to complete".

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "the completing"?

Instead of saying "the completing of the project", try "completing the project" or "the completion of the project". The best option depends on the specific sentence structure.

When is it acceptable to use "the completing"?

While rarely acceptable in formal writing, "the completing" might occasionally appear in informal contexts. However, it is advisable to use grammatically correct alternatives for clarity and precision. Consider "the completion" instead.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: