before she finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before she finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action or event that occurred prior to the completion of another action, typically in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "He left the room before she finished her presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Two days before, she finished co-hosting the Women in the World Summit at New York's Hudson Theater — Brown booming out "These are revolutionary days!" to a whooping crowd of 300 women, followed by panels on women's rights and appearances by Hillary Clinton, Melinda Gates, the World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not before she finished that book, however.

The New York Times

"Before she finished her own sentence, I said yes".

The New York Times

Before she finished reading, Claudia was hollering at her daughter to wake up.

The New York Times - Magazine

This cycle was repeated three times before she finished the book.

The Guardian - Books

But she died before she finished her work on the book.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

"I would just be scared that Hillary would be impeached before she finishes her term," she said.

The New York Times

He said the board would publicly address those issues and others, but not before she finishes her inquiry, which he said he expected to take until the end of the year.

The New York Times - Sports

Before she finishes, she combines it with the leftover oil residue in the pan.

Vice

"She starts to ask me to do something, and I'll start to do it before she finishes," the actress says.

Los Angeles Times

I won't let her get married before she finishes her studies", says Barira's mother, Hadiza Moussa.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "before she finished", ensure the context clearly defines what "she" is finishing. Ambiguity can confuse the reader.

Common error

Avoid implying that the subject completed the action after the specified time. Ensure your sentence clearly conveys that the action happened prior to her completion, not afterward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before she finished" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating time. It modifies a clause by specifying when an event occurred relative to the completion of another action by a female subject. Ludwig examples showcase its common usage in narratives and descriptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before she finished" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to establish a timeline, indicating that an event occurred prior to the completion of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. It is commonly found in News & Media sources, showcasing its neutral register. When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what action "she" is completing. While alternatives exist, such as "prior to her completion", "before she finished" remains a straightforward and widely accepted choice. The AI finds that the phrase is useful to establish sequence of events, that makes text more comprehensive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to her completion

Emphasizes the state of completion rather than the act of finishing, adding a slightly more formal tone.

preceding her finish

A more concise and formal way of expressing the same idea.

leading up to her concluding

Focuses on the period leading up to the final action, highlighting the process.

in advance of her being done

More informal and emphasizes the state of being finished.

a moment before she wrapped up

More casual, using "wrapped up" to indicate completion.

previous to her finishing

A more formal and somewhat archaic alternative.

before the completion by her

Passive voice construction altering the sentence structure.

until she had ended

Focuses on the end point and uses a different verb tense.

sooner than her finalization

Emphasizes the finality and formality of the action.

earlier than her concluding

Stresses the timing aspect and uses a more formal verb.

FAQs

How can I use "before she finished" in a sentence?

The phrase "before she finished" is used to indicate that an event happened prior to a female subject completing an action. For example, "He left the room "before she finished" her presentation."

What are some alternatives to "before she finished"?

Alternatives include "prior to her completion", "leading up to her concluding", or "in advance of her being done". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "prior to she finished" instead of "before she finished"?

While "prior to" and "before" can often be used interchangeably, "before she finished" is more common and natural-sounding in most contexts. "Prior to her finishing" would be a more grammatically sound alternative using "prior to".

What is the difference between "before she finished" and "after she started"?

The phrase "before she finished" indicates something occurred preceding the completion of an action, while "after she started" implies something happened following the commencement of an action. They describe opposite points in a timeline.