Complete vs. Incomplete — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 15, 2024
Complete tasks involve finalizing all necessary steps or reaching an endpoint, whereas incomplete tasks are still missing some components or steps.
Difference Between Complete and Incomplete
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Complete refers to something that has all its necessary parts or has been finished entirely, emphasizing a sense of finality and wholeness. In contrast, incomplete indicates that something is missing parts or has not yet reached its end, highlighting a state of deficiency or ongoing process.
When a project is described as complete, it means no further work is required, and all objectives or criteria have been met. On the other hand, an incomplete project still requires additional work or fulfillment of certain conditions before it can be considered finished.
In education, a complete assignment has met all the requirements set by the instructor, ensuring that every aspect of the task has been addressed. Whereas, an incomplete assignment fails to meet all these requirements, which might result in a need for additional work or could reflect a lack of understanding.
In terms of data, complete data sets contain all the expected records without gaps, which is crucial for accurate analysis and decision-making. Conversely, incomplete data sets are missing one or more expected pieces, potentially leading to skewed results or decisions based on partial information.
In software development, a complete software release has all its features implemented and is stable enough for general availability. In contrast, an incomplete version, often called a beta version, may still be undergoing testing and refinement, lacking some functionalities intended for the final release.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Fully finished or having all parts
Lacking some elements or not finished
Project status
No further action required
Additional work needed
Educational context
Meets all assignment requirements
Does not meet all assignment criteria
Data integrity
Contains no missing entries
Has missing or pending entries
Software release
Stable and ready for deployment
Still in development or testing phase
Compare with Definitions
Complete
To bring to a finish.
She completed her degree in four years.
Incomplete
Not fully formed or developed.
The manuscript is still incomplete.
Complete
Whole, with no parts missing.
The puzzle is complete when every piece fits.
Incomplete
Not finished.
The building remains incomplete due to funding issues.
Complete
Entirely perfect or satisfactory.
They felt their happiness was complete.
Incomplete
Lacking some parts or details.
His collection is incomplete without the rare stamp.
Complete
Fully finished.
The book was complete with an epilogue and appendix.
Incomplete
Partially done.
The report submitted was incomplete and unsatisfactory.
Complete
Absolute, total.
The silence was complete after the concert ended.
Incomplete
Missing necessary components.
The application was considered incomplete.
Complete
Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire
A complete medical history.
A complete set of dishes.
Incomplete
Not complete.
Complete
(Botany) Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.
Incomplete
(Football) Not caught in bounds or intercepted
An incomplete forward pass.
Complete
Having come to an end; concluded
The renovation of the kitchen is complete.
Incomplete
A grade indicating that the requirements for an academic course or assignment have not been met.
Complete
Absolute; thorough
Complete control.
A complete mystery.
Incomplete
Not complete; not finished
Complete
Accomplished; consummate
A complete musician.
Incomplete
(botany) Of a flower, wanting any of the usual floral organs.
Complete
(Football) Caught in bounds by a receiver
A complete pass.
Incomplete
Something incomplete.
Complete
To bring to a finish or an end
She has completed her studies.
Incomplete
(Usenet) A multipart file posted to Usenet that is incomplete and thus unusable.
Complete
To make whole, with all necessary elements or parts
A second child would complete their family. Fill in the blanks to complete the form.
Incomplete
(Internet) A multiplayer game that is abandoned because one player disconnects.
Complete
(Football) To throw (a forward pass) that is caught in bounds by a receiver.
Incomplete
A designation of being incomplete.
He got four incompletes out of five courses last semester.
Complete
(ambitransitive) To finish; to make done; to reach the end.
He completed the assignment on time.
Incomplete
Not complete; not filled up; not finished; not having all its parts, or not having them all adjusted; imperfect; defective.
A most imperfect and incomplete divine.
Complete
(transitive) To make whole or entire.
The last chapter completes the book nicely.
Incomplete
Wanting any of the usual floral organs; - said of a flower.
Complete
(poker) To call from the small blind in an unraised pot.
Incomplete
Not complete or total; not completed;
An incomplete account of his life
Political consequences of incomplete military success
An incomplete forward pass
Complete
With all parts included; with nothing missing; full.
My life will be complete once I buy this new television.
She offered me complete control of the project.
After she found the rook, the chess set was complete.
Incomplete
Lacking one or more of the four whorls of the complete flower--sepals or petals or stamens or pistils;
An incomplete flower
Complete flowers
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded; completed.
When your homework is complete, you can go and play with Martin.
Incomplete
Not yet finished;
His thesis is still incomplete
An uncompleted play
Complete
Generic intensifier.
He is a complete bastard!
It was a complete shock when he turned up on my doorstep.
Our vacation was a complete disaster.
Complete
In which every Cauchy sequence converges to a point within the space.
Complete
In which every set with a lower bound has a greatest lower bound.
Complete
In which all small limits exist.
Complete
In which every semantically valid well-formed formula is provable.
Complete
That is in a given complexity class and is such that every other problem in the class can be reduced to it (usually in polynomial time or logarithmic space).
Complete
Filled up; with no part or element lacking; free from deficiency; entire; perfect; consummate.
Ye are complete in him.
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steelRevisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon.
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded; completed; as, the edifice is complete.
This course of vanity almost complete.
Complete
Having all the parts or organs which belong to it or to the typical form; having calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.
Complete
To bring to a state in which there is no deficiency; to perfect; to consummate; to accomplish; to fulfill; to finish; as, to complete a task, or a poem; to complete a course of education.
Bred only and completed to the tasteOf lustful appetence.
And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate.
Complete
Come or bring to a finish or an end;
He finished the dishes
She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours
Complete
Bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements;
A child would complete the family
Complete
Complete or carry out;
Discharge one's duties
Complete
Complete a pass
Complete
Write all the required information onto a form;
Fill out this questionnaire, please!
Make out a form
Complete
Having every necessary or normal part or component or step;
A complete meal
A complete wardrobe
A complete set pf the Britannica
A complete set of china
A complete defeat
A complete accounting
An incomplete flower
Complete
Perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities;
A complete gentleman
Consummate happiness
A consummate performance
Complete
Having all four whorls or principal parts--sepals and petals and stamens and carpels (or pistils);
Complete flowers
Complete
Highly skilled;
An accomplished pianist
A complete musician
Complete
Without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers;
An arrant fool
A complete coward
A consummate fool
A double-dyed villain
Gross negligence
A perfect idiot
Pure folly
What a sodding mess
Stark staring mad
A thoroughgoing villain
Utter nonsense
Complete
Having come or been brought to a conclusion;
The harvesting was complete
The affair is over, ended, finished
The abruptly terminated interview
Common Curiosities
What are the implications of incomplete data in research?
Incomplete data can lead to biased conclusions and may necessitate further data collection.
What does complete recovery from an illness imply?
It implies full restoration of health with no lingering symptoms.
Is it possible to sell a house with incomplete renovations?
Yes, but it might affect the market value and buyer interest negatively.
How does one handle incomplete tasks in project management?
Incomplete tasks require reevaluation and additional resources to complete them.
What does it mean if a document is marked as incomplete?
It indicates that the document lacks some necessary information or sections.
Can a course be completed if some assignments are incomplete?
Typically, a course requires all assignments to be complete for successful completion.
What should one do if they receive an incomplete delivery of an order?
Contact the supplier to resolve the discrepancy and complete the delivery.
Can a story be engaging if it's incomplete?
An incomplete story may still engage readers, especially if intended as a cliffhanger.
How does an incomplete grade affect a student's GPA?
An incomplete grade may not immediately affect the GPA but needs to be resolved to avoid penalties.
How can software be released if it is incomplete?
Software may be released in beta for testing purposes before completing all features.
What does it mean when a task is labeled as complete?
It means the task has been finished in all respects, with no further work required.
How do complete and incomplete proteins differ?
Complete proteins contain all essential amino acids, whereas incomplete proteins lack one or more.
What are the consequences of submitting incomplete work?
It can lead to lower grades, critiques from peers or supervisors, and the need for additional effort.
What is an incomplete pass in football?
It refers to a pass that is not caught by the receiver, thus incomplete.
How does incomplete combustion affect engine performance?
It leads to inefficient fuel use and can produce harmful emissions.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
