finally paying off

USAGE SUMMARY

"finally paying off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation that has taken a long time to reach a successful outcome. For example: "After years of hard work, his efforts are finally paying off".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Was Kennedy's persistence finally paying off?

The Washington Post

"All the hard work is finally paying off," DeLaet said.

The New York Times - Sports

"And I'm just so happy it's finally paying off".

The New York Times

"All the hard work is finally paying off".

The New York Times - Sports

"That sounds braggy, but we've worked really hard, and we're pleased it's finally paying off".

The New York Times

This will be, he says, "a budget that shows the perseverance of the British people finally paying off".

The Guardian

His trade against the London Whale was finally paying off, a vindication — and a profitable one — of his hunch months earlier.

The New York Times

Fortunately all the preparation is finally paying off, largely thanks to the collaboration of the staff of Las Orquídeas National Park.

The New York Times

But Mr. Greenspan, convinced that investments in computers and information technology were finally paying off in faster productivity, was content to let unemployment sink to less than 4percentt.

The New York Times

And since it's gone on for so long, why wouldn't they have the reality?" Instead, he says, computers and the Internet are finally paying off in ways that statistics can measure.

MIT Technology Review

"They're exiting businesses when they don't see growth, they're investing in technology when they do," said Noel M. Tichy, a professor at the University of Michigan Business School who frequently writes about G.E. "That strategy is finally paying off".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finally paying off", ensure the context clearly establishes the preceding effort or investment that is now yielding positive results.

Common error

Avoid using "finally paying off" when the positive outcome is immediate or occurs without significant prior effort. The phrase implies a substantial investment of time or resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finally paying off" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that a sustained effort, investment, or period of time is now yielding positive results. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finally paying off" is a versatile verbal phrase used to express that sustained effort, investment, or patience has led to a positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts. It is commonly found in news, business, and scientific domains, emphasizing the contrast between initial investment and eventual reward. When writing, remember to use "finally paying off" when you want to highlight the long-awaited and deserved success of a particular endeavor. Alternatives like "yielding results at last" or "bearing fruit after a long wait" can be used to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yielding results at last

Emphasizes the achievement of tangible outcomes after a period of waiting or effort.

bearing fruit after a long wait

Highlights the delayed but eventual positive outcome of sustained effort.

ultimately proving beneficial

Focuses on the eventual positive impact or advantage gained.

rewarding the effort in the end

Stresses the concept of receiving a just reward for hard work.

finally showing a return

Highlights that an initial investment has begun to generate positive returns.

the tide is finally turning

Indicates a shift from unfavorable to favorable circumstances.

achieving success at long last

Highlights that success has been achieved after a considerable duration.

realizing gains after persistence

Emphasizes the realization of benefits as a direct result of perseverance.

achieving fruition after perseverance

Indicates the achievement of a goal after a long period of dedication

long-term efforts are succeeding

It is more specific by highlighting that the efforts are succeeding over a long period of time

FAQs

How can I use "finally paying off" in a sentence?

You can use "finally paying off" to describe situations where sustained effort or investment leads to a positive outcome, such as: "After years of research, the scientist's work is "finally paying off" with a groundbreaking discovery."

What are some alternatives to "finally paying off"?

Alternatives include "yielding results at last", "bearing fruit after a long wait", or "ultimately proving beneficial", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "finally paid off" instead of "finally paying off"?

"Finally paid off" refers to the completion of a payment or debt, while "finally paying off" describes efforts yielding positive results after a long period. The choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "finally paying off" and "eventually paying off"?

"Finally paying off" implies a sense of relief or culmination, suggesting the result was long-awaited. "Eventually paying off" ("eventually paying off") simply indicates that the effort will produce results at some point in the future, without the same emphasis on prior waiting.