trying to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

"trying to complete" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe attempts to finish a task. For example: "We're trying to complete the project before the end of the semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moreover, the fleet is completely booked trying to complete the space station by 2010.

Science Magazine

"I'm still trying to complete that journey".

The New York Times - Magazine

They must be trying to complete the set.

The New York Times

By preserving the tree, "I'm trying to complete Harriet.

The New York Times

I feel I should be trying to complete my life, whatever "completing a life" means.

The New York Times

I'm trying to complete the metamorphosis from brittle husk to being just me again.

The New York Times

Dollar Thrifty has been trying to complete a deal for some time.

The New York Times

At the time, a committee dominated by Islamists was trying to complete a new constitution.

The New Yorker

That figure reflects the difficulties students have faced in trying to complete college in four years.

The New York Times

Marcus's team is trying to complete a second consecutive undefeated season.

The New York Times - Books

Reno begins the book moving east, racing a bike, trying to complete a project.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trying to complete" to describe ongoing efforts toward finishing a task or project. It implies that the process is underway but not yet finished.

Common error

Avoid using "trying to complete" when the action is already successfully done. Instead, use "completed" or "finished" to reflect the accomplished status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to complete" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle phrase, indicating an ongoing action or effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable part of a sentence describing attempts to finish a task, as illustrated in several examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying to complete" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to describe ongoing efforts to finish a task. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically sound and fits well in various contexts, although primarily found in news and media. When writing, remember that this phrase denotes an action that is in progress and not yet finished. Consider using alternative phrases like "attempting to finish" or "working towards completion" to add variety to your writing and refine the message you want to communicate. Avoiding it when the subject is effectively finished and using a more direct term, like "finished" or "completed", is highly recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to finish

Focuses more on the act of attempting, whereas the original phrase includes the idea of completion.

making an effort to complete

Highlights the exertion of effort in the process.

working towards completion

Emphasizes the ongoing effort and progress being made.

in an attempt to complete

Positions the completion as the purpose of an action.

in the process of completing

Highlights the state of being engaged in the task of completing something.

aiming to conclude

Focuses on the intention or goal of concluding something.

seeking to finalize

More formal and emphasizes the goal of reaching a final state.

striving to finalize

Stresses the effort being put forth to achieve a final form.

seeking to achieve completion

Highlights the desire to attain a completed state.

endeavoring to conclude

Highly formal and suggests a determined effort to bring something to an end.

FAQs

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

Use "trying to complete" to describe an ongoing effort to finish something. For example, "The team is "trying to complete" the project by the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "trying to complete"?

You can use phrases like "attempting to finish", "working towards completion", or "in the process of completing" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "trying to complete" or "attempting to complete"?

Both "trying to complete" and "attempting to complete" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice often depends on personal preference or the desired level of formality. "Trying" is generally more common in everyday language, while "attempting" can sound slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "trying to complete" and "completed"?

"Trying to complete" indicates an ongoing effort, while "completed" indicates that the task is already finished. For example, "They are "trying to complete" the report" means they are currently working on it, while "They completed the report" means they have already finished it.