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Prepositions with nouns

Completion with different prepositions

Completion commonly takes of for the task being finished. Upon completion and on completion both mean after something is finished.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are natural with completion?

Completion of something is the standard structure. On completion and upon completion mean after finishing. Completion to is uncommon and usually not idiomatic.

completion of the project
upon completion of training
on completion, submit the form.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
completion of + task

Naming what was finished

Of introduces the activity, course, or project completed.

completion of repairs
2
upon completion of + task

Meaning after finishing

Upon completion is formal and common in instructions.

upon completion of the survey
3
on completion of + task

Another way to mean after finishing

On completion is slightly less formal than upon completion.

on completion of the course
4
completion for + purpose

Showing intended use

For may describe the purpose or deadline context.

completion for next week

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
completion of
The completion of the bridge took two years.
standard structure for finished work
completion on
Payment is due on completion.
on introduces a time point after finishing
completion for
The team aimed for completion by June.
for relates to aim or purpose in a larger structure
completion to
The completion to the form was delayed.
not a standard pairing
upon completion
Upon completion, please log out.
formal expression meaning after finishing

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using completion to

Completion does not normally take to directly.

✕ completion to the task ✓ completion of the task

Confusing on completion and completion on

On completion is the fixed phrase.

✕ completion on the course ✓ on completion of the course

Using for instead of of

Of names the completed thing.

✕ completion for the report ✓ completion of the report

Omitting of after completion

The noun usually needs of before the task.

✕ completion the work ✓ completion of the work

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The completion ___ the building was delayed.
2. ___ completion of the form, click submit.
3. Payment is required ___ completion.

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Frequently asked questions

Is upon completion formal?

Yes. It is common in instructions, contracts, and official writing.

Can I use on completion instead?

Yes. It has a similar meaning and is slightly less formal.

Is completion to correct?

Usually no. English normally uses completion of something.

for, admission, of, admission "for adoption", "of adoption" or "to adoption"? "for answer" or "of answer"? "for approval" or "of approval"? for, at, after, to or before lunch? "for breakfast" or "after breakfast"? "for collection" or "of collection"? "for dad" or "with dad"? for, during, in, of or with period? "for enforcement" or "of enforcement"? "for examination" or "of examination"? "for generation" or "of generation"?

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