virtually finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is almost complete but not entirely done. Example: "The project is virtually finished; we just need to finalize a few details before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

But 35... Re5 virtually finished the struggle.

The New York Times

The first two acts were virtually finished by Donizetti, even with their orchestration.

The New York Times - Arts

So then I sort of vaguely mentioned what I might have, without saying it's virtually finished.

The Guardian - Books

NBC, which typically sells first, is doing so again, the executives said, and is virtually finished.

The New York Times

The Greens virtually finished where they started in Sydney and Grayndler, with swings below 0.5 percentage points.

The Guardian

"The table was virtually finished in 1814 when Napoleon was exiled," said Gillian Arthur, a furniture specialist at Sotheby's.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

More than ever, New Yorkers pride themselves on living together the way the new generation of Giant owners, the Mara and Tisch families, virtually finish each other's sentences.

The New York Times

Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, said it was the most impressive victory by an American since 1895, when Harry Nelson Pillsbury, who was 22 and virtually unknown, finished first at the tournament in Hastings, England, in a field that included Emanuel Lasker, the world champion, and Wilhelm Steinitz, who had lost the title the year before.

The New York Times

Be ready for a bumpy start; virtually nobody finishes homeschooling the same way they started.

WikiHow

Fox ranked second, while NBC and ABC finished virtually tied for third.

The New York Times - Arts

Overall the FTSE 100 finished virtually unchanged, down 1.97 points at 6729.17.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually finished" to convey that something is close to completion but might require minor adjustments or final touches. It's ideal when the remaining tasks are insignificant compared to what's already achieved.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually finished" if significant work remains. It can mislead the audience into thinking the task is further along than it actually is. Be accurate about the degree of completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually finished" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the state of something being close to completion, implying that only minor tasks or adjustments remain. As shown by Ludwig, this usage is common across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually finished" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something is close to completion. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples confirms its widespread use across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. The phrase effectively conveys a state of near completion, suggesting that only minor tasks or adjustments are needed. While alternatives like "nearly complete" or "almost done" exist, "virtually finished" offers a slightly more formal and precise tone. Overall, it's a reliable and versatile phrase for expressing progress and setting expectations about the state of a project or task.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually completed

Uses 'completed' to suggest the action of finishing is nearly achieved, similar to the original phrase.

nearly complete

Emphasizes the proximity to being entirely finished.

almost done

A more informal way to indicate that something is close to completion.

practically completed

Highlights the practical aspect of completion, suggesting only minor tasks remain.

essentially complete

Focuses on the core aspects being finished, with only peripheral elements outstanding.

as good as finished

Expresses a strong sense of certainty that completion is imminent.

tantamount to finished

Implies that the current state is equivalent to being finished, even if technically not.

nearing completion

Describes the process of approaching the final stages of being finished.

in the final stages

Indicates that the process is well advanced and close to the end.

on the verge of completion

Suggests that the state of being finished is very close and about to be realized.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually finished" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually finished" to describe a task, project or product that is nearly complete but still requires some minor adjustments. For instance, "The house is "virtually finished"; we just need to paint the trim and install the light fixtures."

What's a good alternative to "virtually finished"?

Alternatives include "nearly complete", "almost done", or "practically completed". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "virtually finished" even if there are still some steps left?

Yes, "virtually finished" implies that the remaining steps are minor and do not represent a significant amount of work. If substantial work remains, a different phrase would be more accurate.

What is the difference between "virtually finished" and "actually finished"?

"Virtually finished" means almost finished, with just a few minor details remaining. "Actually finished" means completely done, with no further work required.