until they have completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'until they have completed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action that will happen after the completion of another action. For example, "We will wait to open the gifts until they have completed the scavenger hunt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Preventive strategies to decrease default rates include regulation, such as withholding diplomas or licenses from scholarship recipients until they have completed their service [ 35], requiring completion of the obligated service for specialist training [ 66], or restricting the visa eligibility of obligated health workers before completion of their service [ 15].

Human Resources for Health

They should not be granted unrestricted laboratory key access until they have completed laboratory safety training.

Princeton University

Usually, students are not eligible for this program until they have completed one year in a Berkeley graduate degree program.

University of California, Berkeley

Readers who solve The Times's Sunday puzzles may wish to skip this note until they have completed today's crossword.

The New York Times

The lawyers are loath to waive attorney-client privilege, which shields the documents from outsiders, until they have completed their review.

The New York Times

Usually, students are not allowed to participate in the Stanford program until they have completed a year of graduate study at Berkeley.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Women had to stay on the ward until they had completed the abortion.

The Guardian

"Until they've completed that analysis, the project will not move forward," said Darlene Yuhas, a Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman.

The New York Times

Instead, he and a friend, Holger Pichl, 42, ran loops of Central Park until they had completed the official distance, 26 miles 385 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

If people's discourse is impassioned enough, the camera does them the honor of sticking with them until they've completed an anecdote or rounded off a thought.

The New Yorker

At Cornell, students are not permitted to study in another country until they've completed pertinent courses in language, history, politics and culture.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until they have completed", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what action is dependent on the completion. For example, "They cannot receive their certificates until they have completed all the modules."

Common error

Avoid using "until they have completed" when a different temporal relationship is intended. For instance, don't use it if you mean 'while' or 'during'. Incorrect: "They rested until they had completed the marathon" (should be 'after').

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until they have completed" functions as a subordinating conjunction introducing a time clause. It establishes a temporal boundary, indicating that the main clause's action is pending completion of the action described in the subordinate clause. Ludwig confirms this usage through example sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until they have completed" is a subordinating conjunction that sets a condition based on the completion of an action. As Ludwig AI points out, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears in a range of contexts from news and media to academia and science. While not overly common, it's a useful and versatile phrase for establishing temporal relationships. Remember to clearly define the action that is dependent on completion to ensure clarity in your writing. Avoid misusing it to indicate 'while' or 'during'. Alternatives include "before they finish" or "only after they conclude", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before they finish

Focuses on the act of finishing, implying a conclusion but less formal.

prior to their completion

More formal and emphasizes the state of being complete rather than the action.

not until they are done

Informal and direct, focusing on the state of being finished.

only after they conclude

Highlights the concluding action as a prerequisite.

once they have accomplished

Emphasizes the achievement aspect of completion.

till they are through

Informal and emphasizes being entirely finished.

up until they've concluded

Emphasizes the duration leading to the conclusion.

before they are through with

Emphasis on a task reaching a final state.

pending their finalization

Places emphasis on the state of something being in the final stages of completion.

until they conclude their work

Implies a more specific end goal associated with work done.

FAQs

How can I use "until they have completed" in a sentence?

Use "until they have completed" to specify a condition that must be fulfilled before another action can take place. For example, "The funds will not be released "until they have completed" the project's first phase".

What are some alternatives to "until they have completed"?

Alternatives include "before they finish", "prior to their completion", or "only after they conclude". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever appropriate to use "till they have completed" instead of "until they have completed"?

"Till" and "until" are generally interchangeable, but "until" is often preferred in more formal writing. "Till" is considered slightly more informal, but both are grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "until they complete" and "until they have completed"?

"Until they complete" implies a future action, while "until they have completed" implies a completed action leading to a subsequent event. For example, "We'll wait until they complete the task" versus "We'll wait "until they have completed" the task, and then we'll proceed".