unfinished text

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfinished text" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a piece of writing that has not been completed or finalized. Example: "The author submitted an unfinished text to the publisher, indicating that further revisions were needed before it could be released."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

A poem that has loomed large in Geoffrey Hill's critical wranglings with Eliot is "Coriolan", an unfinished text whose abandoned status Hill views as a tragic abdication on Eliot's part.

The Guardian - Books

Saying the ­advance has been spent, Canongate publishes the unfinished text despite his opposition, at the price of disobliging reviews, weak sales and verbal attacks by the WikiLeaks founder.

The Guardian - Books

That said, there's clearly a degree of conceptualising involved: Split Your Ends and In Manchester were apparently born out of an experiment involving Newman carving songs out of blocks of unformatted, unfinished text supplied by bassist Graham Lewis, while the sound of the album gradually shifts from the warmth of opener Blogging, becoming increasingly agitated and dark.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The publishers of Carnets du Voyage en Chine ("Notebooks of a Journey to China") and Journal de Deuil ("Diary of Mourning") have been attacked because these unfinished texts were never meant for publication and allegedly reveal intimate secrets about Barthes's private life.

The Guardian - Books

At the end of all completed achievements, you will see unfinished achievements below, in faded text with no completion date.

WikiHow

There is no final text, only an unfinished manuscript corpus.

The Economist

The unfinished Paris manuscripts, a holy text in the nineteen-sixties, did not appear in English until 1959.

The New Yorker

The Web itself is an eternally unfinished monument to inclusionism — a text that aspires to be as big and involved as the world it describes.

The New York Times - Magazine

The unfinished book of sketches and text, devoted to the cheerful invertebrate, was discovered among Scarry's papers, and his son Huck, also an artist, is colouring and completing it.

The Guardian - Books

Of course, if Bra1n or King Arthur were to give the reader what she thought she wanted, the text would be unfinished, unedited, and in Swedish to boot, or to bot, but maybe the hackers could helpfully add a translation virus.

The New Yorker

Among the texts he left unfinished was a set of manuscript volumes filled with information on Native American religion and culture.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a piece of writing that is still being developed or revised, use "unfinished text" to clearly indicate its state. This term is suitable for both academic and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "unfinished text" with a negative connotation unless explicitly intended. While it indicates incompletion, it doesn't automatically mean the text is of poor quality. Instead, focus on describing specific areas needing improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfinished text" primarily functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies a noun (text) and indicates its state of completion. As Ludwig AI also indicates, this phrase effectively communicates that a document or piece of writing is not yet finalized. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in literary analysis and publishing contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unfinished text" is a grammatically sound and commonly understood way to describe a written work that is not yet complete. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While relatively uncommon in frequency, it appears across various contexts, including news media, academia, and wiki environments. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the text's incompletion and avoid implying negative judgment unless specifically warranted. Consider alternatives like "incomplete manuscript" or "draft version" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incomplete manuscript

Emphasizes the physical form of the text as a manuscript that is not yet complete.

uncompleted document

Focuses on the document as a whole, highlighting that it hasn't reached its finished state.

draft version

Highlights that the text is a preliminary version, still subject to changes and refinements.

work in progress

Indicates that the text is currently being developed and is not yet in its final form.

preliminary draft

Similar to "draft version" but emphasizes the early stage of development.

unfinalized text

Stresses that the text has not yet undergone the final stages of review and approval.

incomplete writing

Focuses on the act of writing itself, suggesting that the writing process is not yet concluded.

partially written text

Highlights that only a portion of the text has been written.

unpolished draft

Suggests that the text requires further refinement and editing.

rough draft

Implies the text is in a very early stage, with much work still needed.

FAQs

How can I use "unfinished text" in a sentence?

You can use "unfinished text" to describe a document that is not yet complete, such as, "The professor reviewed the "unfinished text" and provided feedback for revisions."

What's a good alternative to "unfinished text"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "unfinished text" could be "incomplete manuscript", "draft version", or "work in progress".

Is it acceptable to publish an "unfinished text"?

Publishing an "unfinished text" is a complex decision. While it can offer insights into an author's process, it may also be seen as unprofessional if the text is not adequately developed or revised. Consider the purpose and audience before publishing.

What does it mean when a piece of writing is described as an "unfinished text"?

An "unfinished text" typically means the writing is still in progress, lacking final edits, conclusions, or complete information. It implies the work is not yet ready for formal presentation or publication.