finalizing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "finalizing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to complete or make final preparations for something, usually after much deliberation, discussion, or planning. For example: "We are finalizing plans for the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The picture was locked on the 3 November at midnight, according to Slash Film, however director JJ Abrams is still understood to be finalizing the film's visual effects, sound effects and final scoring by composer John Williams.

Independent

In his victory speech, Anastasiades affirmed that finalizing a bailout agreement would be his first priority as president.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We have the biggest names in the business, like Mariah Carey, interested in doing this... so for the next couple of weeks it will be a matter of picking the right one, with the right chemistry, making the deal, and finalizing this," he said.

Independent

Internet search firm Google is finalizing a deal that would let the National Security Agency help it investigate a corporate espionage attack that may have originated in China, it has been reported today.

Independent

Allen is in the midst of finalizing his recommendations to Obama on how quickly to withdraw troops from Afghanistan next year, and he recently presented options on how many U.S. trainers and counterterrorism forces might remain in the country after 2014, when the NATO-led combat mission is scheduled to end.

Independent

With the potluck-dinner model in place and China having confirmed its attendance at the table, finalizing the agreement will come down to securing the backing of India and other developing countries.

The New Yorker

The Governor is also supposed to be finalizing a big deal to bring a "racino" to Aqueduct racetrack, in Queens, but that has stalled because of accusations that he selected an inferior bid from a company in which Floyd Flake, a prominent pastor, is an investor.

The New Yorker

We'd become more or less resigned to the use of "musicalizing" by theatre people, & of "finalizing" by school teachers, but we'd never dreamed that any thing like "jumboizing" could sneak into common usage.

The New Yorker

King is finalizing a bill directed at a group he calls "costumed individuals".

The New Yorker

They are finalizing their divorce, and over lunch she mocks the solipsism of his new relationship.

The New Yorker

(The Kremlin said Putin could make better use of his time by finalizing his cabinet appointments).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finalizing", ensure that all major decisions have been made and you are truly in the last stages of preparation, to accurately reflect the word's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "finalizing" when significant changes or decisions are still pending; it suggests a stage of completion that hasn't been reached, which can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "finalizing" is that of a present participle or gerund, typically used in continuous verb tenses or as a verbal noun. Ludwig indicates that this term is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "finalizing" is a grammatically sound verb form used to indicate the completion of the last stages of a process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for written English and appears frequently in neutral to professional contexts such as News & Media and Encyclopedias. When using "finalizing", ensure you are truly at the end stages of a process to avoid misrepresenting the status of your work. Alternatives like "completing" or "wrapping up" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. The term's widespread use across authoritative sources reinforces its reliability and appropriateness in formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

putting the finishing touches on

Highlights the last steps of a process, comparable to "finalizing" but more descriptive.

completing

Focuses on the action of finishing something, similar to "finalizing" but without the emphasis on the final stage.

settling

Focuses on resolving or deciding something definitively, sharing the conclusive aspect of "finalizing".

concluding

Implies bringing something to a formal end, which is comparable to the concluding aspect of "finalizing".

putting the final stamp on

Implies giving final approval or confirmation, close to the definitive action in "finalizing".

wrapping up

Offers a more informal way to describe bringing something to an end, less formal than "finalizing".

putting the seal on

Suggests making something official and complete, similar to "finalizing" but more emphatic.

sealing the deal on

Emphasizes reaching an agreement or making something official, a specific type of "finalizing".

nailing down

Signifies confirming or securing something definitively, similar to the assurance implied in "finalizing".

putting the lid on

Offers an idiomatic way to express finishing or completing something, more figurative than "finalizing".

FAQs

How do you use "finalizing" in a sentence?

You can use "finalizing" to describe the process of completing the last steps of a project or agreement. For example, "The team is currently finalizing the budget for next year."

What can I say instead of "finalizing"?

You can use alternatives like "completing", "concluding", or "wrapping up" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "finalizing" or "to finalize"?

"Finalizing" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "finalize", often used in continuous tenses (e.g., "We are finalizing the details"). "To finalize" is the infinitive form (e.g., "We need to finalize the agreement").

What's the difference between "finalizing" and "finishing"?

"Finalizing" implies a process of making something complete and ready, focusing on the last steps and details. "Finishing" ("finishing") simply means bringing something to an end, without necessarily implying a high degree of preparation or readiness.