to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to complete' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to finishing, achieving, or bringing something to an end. For example, "We are hard at work to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It took him 500 hours to complete.

Independent

I want to complete that effort.

The New York Times

The information necessary to complete those tasks?

The New York Times

But new properties take years to complete.

The Economist

One pair takes six months to complete.

The New York Times

It expects to complete the remainder soon.

The New York Times

Incentives to complete checkout.

Forbes

It took until 1980 to complete.

BBC

The journey took nine months to complete.

BBC

We hope to complete very soon".

BBC

To complete ourselves.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to complete" when you want to clearly state the intention of finishing a task or process.

Common error

Avoid using "to complete" excessively in overly complex sentences. Sometimes, a simpler verb like "finish" or restructuring the sentence can improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to complete" primarily functions as an infinitive of purpose. It specifies the reason or intention behind an action. As shown by Ludwig, it clearly indicates what someone aims to achieve, as in "Incentives to complete checkout".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to complete" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that acts as an infinitive of purpose, expressing the intention behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for a wide range of contexts, from formal business settings to informal wikis. While alternatives like "to finish" or "to conclude" exist, the specific choice depends on the desired nuance. Remember to avoid overuse in overly complex sentences to maintain clarity, and consider if a simpler verb or sentence restructure might be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order to finish

Replaces "complete" with "finish", maintaining the purpose-oriented structure.

so as to conclude

Uses "conclude" to mean complete, suitable for more formal contexts.

with the aim of finalizing

Emphasizes the intention behind completing something.

for the purpose of ending

Highlights the termination aspect of completion.

to bring to fruition

Emphasizes the successful outcome of completing something.

in completion of

A more formal and passive way of expressing the act of completing.

towards the finish of

Focuses on the progress leading to the end of something.

with a view to accomplishing

Highlights the goal of accomplishing something, similar to completing it.

for the sake of achieving

Emphasizes the value or importance of achieving completion.

to see through

Implies persevering until the end, similar to completing a task.

FAQs

How can I use "to complete" in a sentence?

You can use "to complete" to express the purpose of an action, like "I need to study hard "to complete" the course successfully".

What are some alternatives to "to complete"?

Alternatives include "to finish", "to conclude", or "to accomplish" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "to complete" and "to finish"?

"To complete" often implies a more thorough or comprehensive ending, while "to finish" can simply mean to reach the end. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is better, "to complete the task" or "completing the task"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "to complete the task" (infinitive) often expresses purpose, while "completing the task" (gerund) functions as a noun. For example, "I need to focus "to complete" the task" vs. "Completing the task is my priority".