Cool MateCompletion vs Finish
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Completion
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Finish
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Finish
| Completion | Finish | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɪnɪʃ/","/ˈfɪnɪʃɪz/","/ˈfɪnɪʃt/","/ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɪnɪʃ/","/ˈfɪnɪʃɪz/","/ˈfɪnɪʃt/","/ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | The act of finishing something. | To complete something. |
| Example | The completion of the project was celebrated with a party. | I need to finish my homework before dinner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | rapid, speedy, early, near, reach, bring something to, date, time, rate, after completion, following completion, before completion, the date of completion | almost, nearly, barely, let somebody, by, with, almost, nearly, barely, let somebody, by, with |
| Antonyms | incompletion, unfinished, failure | start, begin, initiate |
| Common mistakes | 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' | Confused with 'complete'—'finish' is more informal., Incorrect verb form—using 'finishing' instead of 'finish' in simple present., Omitting the object—saying 'I will finish.' instead of 'I will finish the project.' |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'finish' in contexts where something needs to be completed. It’s appropriate for both spoken and written English but might sound too casual in formal reports. |
Frequently asked questions: Completion vs Finish
What's the difference between Completion and Finish?
Completion: The act of finishing something. Finish: To complete something.
Which is more common: Completion and Finish?
Finish is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Completion and Finish?
Completion is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Completion and Finish the same CEFR level?
Completion: B2, Finish: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Completion and Finish?
Completion: noun, Finish: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Completion: The completion of the project was celebrated with a party. Finish: I need to finish my homework before dinner.
Can I use Completion and Finish interchangeably?
Not always. Completion and Finish 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.