Breakdown of Rapporten är i stort sett klar.
vara
to be
rapporten
the report
klar
ready / finished (doing something)
i stort sett
broadly speaking, on the whole
Questions & Answers about Rapporten är i stort sett klar.
How does the fixed phrase i stort sett literally break down?
It literally translates to "in large seen." It is a very common idiom meaning "pretty much," "virtually," or "by and large." The idea is that when "seen" from a "large" or broad perspective, the thing is finished.
Why doesn't klar mean "clear" in this context?
While klar can mean "clear" (like a cloudless sky or a transparent liquid), when it is applied to a task, a document, or a project like rapporten, it translates to "finished" or "done."
Could I move i stort sett to the very beginning of the sentence to emphasize it?
Yes, but you must remember the V2 rule where the verb must be the second element in a main clause. The sentence would become I stort sett är rapporten klar.
Is i stort sett considered formal or informal?
It sits right in the middle and is highly versatile. You can safely use i stort sett in both everyday spoken Swedish and in professional or academic writing, such as when discussing a formal report.