finally said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finally said" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has made a statement after a period of waiting or anticipation. Example: "After much deliberation, she finally said what was on her mind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We finally said hello.

The New York Times

"Ow," he finally said.

The New Yorker

"Hmm," she finally said.

The New York Times

"Nah," Jalal finally said.

The New York Times - Magazine

"O.K.," she finally said.

The New York Times

"Well," she finally said.

The New York Times - Books

"I finally said no".

The New York Times

"Harry!" she finally said.

The New York Times

"Akh!" Zakharchenko finally said.

The New Yorker

"I wasn't," he finally said.

The New Yorker

"Oh Christ," she finally said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "finally said" to indicate a sense of resolution or conclusion after a period of silence, deliberation, or anticipation.

Common error

Avoid using "finally said" excessively in dialogue. Vary your dialogue tags with alternatives like "remarked", "replied", or action beats to keep the writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finally said" functions as a dialogue tag, indicating that a character or speaker has spoken after some delay, hesitation, or anticipation. This is supported by Ludwig examples where "finally said" is consistently used to introduce direct speech after a pause or a preceding action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "finally said" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that serves as a dialogue tag, indicating that someone has spoken after a delay or period of hesitation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, particularly within News & Media. When using this phrase, remember to consider the context and avoid overuse to maintain writing clarity and engagement. Alternatives like "eventually stated" or "ultimately expressed" can provide variety and nuance. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for a range of writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eventually stated

Indicates a statement made after some time or hesitation.

ultimately expressed

Highlights the finality of the expression.

eventually remarked

Similar to 'stated', but implies a casual comment.

concluded by saying

Emphasizes the concluding nature of the statement.

at last mentioned

Highlights the delay before mentioning something.

after deliberation, said

Explicitly indicates a period of thought before speaking.

in the end, declared

Emphasizes the ultimate and decisive nature of the statement.

soberly announced

Highlights a serious tone in the announcement.

eventually got around to saying

Indicates a reluctance or delay in making the statement.

after much thought, responded

Highlights careful consideration before the response.

FAQs

How can I use "finally said" in a sentence?

Use "finally said" to show that a character speaks after a period of silence or hesitation. For example, "After a long pause, she "finally said", 'I accept your offer.'"

What are some alternatives to "finally said"?

You can use alternatives like "eventually stated", "ultimately expressed", or "at last mentioned" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "finally said" if the context already implies a delay?

While not always redundant, consider whether the "finally" is necessary. If the delay is clear from the surrounding text, simply using "said" might be more effective. For example, "He hesitated, then said, 'I can't go'."

What's the difference between "finally said" and "eventually said"?

"Finally said" often implies a sense of resolution or culmination, whereas "eventually said" simply indicates something happened after some time. "Finally" emphasizes the end of a period of waiting or hesitation.