until completing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until completing" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it suggests a continuous action that is not grammatically supported. Example: "You must work diligently until completing the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Vick was banned from owning a dog until completing his probation period.

The Guardian - Sport

Fourteen were taken on at that time, and 10 of them worked until completing their four months in October.

The New York Times

The San Mateo County medical examiner's office would not release names of the other dead until completing the autopsies, using dental charts to help identify the victims.

The New York Times

New Jersey has accepted them before, but in 2003, environmental groups persuaded the state to take fewer than it wanted and to impose a moratorium on taking more until completing environmental studies.

The New York Times

Oxford University Press, which published Mr. Griffin's book, is investigating the issue and will not comment until completing a review, according to Christian Purdy, director of publicity for the publisher in New York.

The New York Times

Because UCLA was so affordable, and especially since it offered film-makers the chance to get their hands on free cameras, many of these students took their own sweet time graduating: Burnett attended the school from 1967 until completing Killer of Sheep 10 years later, working as a teaching assistant and mentoring the younger students.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

We also believe that talks should press on until completed.

The Guardian

Each trainee continued training until completed 30 successful ETIs had been completed in total.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Repeat the steps until completed.

WikiHow

Continue adding these items until completed.

WikiHow

Repeat for each additional segment until completed.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "until you complete" or "until the completion of" for greater grammatical correctness and clarity in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using a gerund directly after "until" without a subject. Instead, clarify who or what is completing the action, as in "until they complete the task."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until completing" functions as a temporal prepositional phrase, indicating the duration of an action or state up to the point of completion. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's not considered standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until completing" is used to indicate a time frame up to the point of completion. While common, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. It is recommended to use alternatives like "until you complete" or "until the completion of", particularly in formal contexts. Although it appears in diverse sources, leaning towards informal usage, understanding its limitations ensures clearer and more grammatically sound writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until you complete

Replaces the gerund phrase with a clause, specifying who is doing the completing.

till completing

A less formal synonym for "until completing".

until completion of

Uses a noun phrase instead of a gerund, emphasizing the finished state.

up until the completion of

Adds emphasis with "up until", but maintains the focus on the completion itself.

before completing

Shifts the focus to the action preceding completion.

prior to completing

More formal version of "before completing", suitable for professional contexts.

in anticipation of completing

Focuses on expecting the completion, implying preparation.

leading up to completing

Highlights the process and steps taken before the final act of completing.

pending the completion of

Indicates a state of waiting for the completion of something.

through completing

Emphasizes the process of completing as a means or method.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct way to say "until completing"?

You can rephrase "until completing" as "until you complete" or "until the completion of" depending on the context.

Is "until completing" considered formal or informal?

While "until completing" appears in various sources, it's generally considered less formal and grammatically questionable. Opt for clearer and more structured alternatives in formal contexts, such as "until the completion of" or "until it is completed".

What can I use instead of "until completing" in academic writing?

In academic writing, it's best to use more precise phrases like "until the task is complete", or "until the process finishes", which clearly define the subject and action.

How can I make sure my sentence with "until completing" is grammatically sound?

Ensure that "until" is followed by a clause with a subject and a verb (e.g., "until she completes the analysis") or a noun phrase (e.g., "until the completion of the analysis") instead of directly using the gerund form.