Achievement vs Completion

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Achievement

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun

Completion

Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
 AchievementCompletion
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈtʃiːvmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtʃiːvmənt/"]/🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːʃn/"]/
MeaningSomething you have done successfully.The act of finishing something.
ExampleWinning the championship was a great achievement for the team.The completion of the project was celebrated with a party.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1B2
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsamazing, considerable, extraordinary, be, constitute, represent, achievement in, quite an achievement, high, individual, personal, level, standard, measure, gap, award, test, a feeling of achievement, a sense of achievement, a lack of achievementrapid, speedy, early, near, reach, bring something to, date, time, rate, after completion, following completion, before completion, the date of completion
Antonymsfailure, defeat, setbackincompletion, unfinished, failure
Common mistakesConfusing 'achievement' with 'accomplishment' when used in similar contexts., Using 'achievements' incorrectly as a verb instead of a noun., Not distinguishing between short-term and long-term achievements.Using 'complete' instead of 'completion' as a noun, Confusing it with 'completionist' in game contexts, Saying 'the completion of the work is done' instead of 'the completion of the work is finished'
Usage notesUse 'achievement' in both formal and informal settings. It's suitable for discussions about school, career, or personal goals, but may not fit casual conversations about everyday events.Use 'completion' in contexts where something is finished. Common in academic or formal settings, but less so in casual conversation. Be careful in using it in informal settings where simpler words may work better.

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Achievement

Frequently asked questions: Achievement vs Completion

What's the difference between Achievement and Completion?

Achievement: Something you have done successfully. Completion: The act of finishing something.

Which is more advanced: Achievement and Completion?

Completion is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Achievement and Completion the same CEFR level?

Achievement: B1, Completion: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Achievement and Completion?

Achievement: noun, Completion: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Achievement: Winning the championship was a great achievement for the team. Completion: The completion of the project was celebrated with a party.

Can I use Achievement and Completion interchangeably?

Not always. Achievement and Completion are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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