finish in time

USAGE SUMMARY

"finish in time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you wish to express that something should be completed before a certain deadline or point in time. For example: "We need to make sure we finish the project in time for the client's presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Luckily, they didn't finish in time".

The New Yorker

At the beginning, walls proved a stumbling block: the builders failed to finish in time.

Independent

His goal: To finish in time for the night's next appointment.

The New York Times

Sweat-soaked and weary, they finish in time to catch the last shades of sunset.

The New York Times

They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th.

The Economist

This meant advancing the first stage to January in order to finish in time for the national convention.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

The mystic finishes in Time.

The New Yorker

The Project was finished in time for the 2010 summer season.

The New Yorker

I think they would have been finished in time.

The New Yorker

Each year, there are also documentaries racing to be finished in time.

The New York Times

Psy worked two days without sleep to get the video finished in time.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finish in time", ensure that the context clearly defines the deadline or event you are referring to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "finish in time" without specifying what the 'time' refers to. For instance, instead of saying "I hope to finish in time", specify "I hope to finish the report in time for the meeting."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish in time" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the completion of an action before a specified deadline or event. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finish in time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that conveys the importance of completing a task before a set deadline. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in a wide array of contexts. As demonstrated by the examples, it’s commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business settings, with leading sources like The New York Times and The Guardian using the phrase. When using "finish in time", be sure to clearly define the specific 'time' to which you're referring to avoid any confusion. Alternatives such as "complete on schedule" or "meet the deadline" can be used for variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete on schedule

Replaces "finish" with "complete" and specifies "on schedule" instead of "in time", focusing on adhering to a set timeline.

meet the deadline

Uses a more direct expression, focusing on the act of successfully achieving the deadline.

deliver promptly

Emphasizes the aspect of delivering something quickly and without delay.

conclude punctually

Replaces "finish" with "conclude" and emphasizes precise timing with "punctually", making it more formal.

wrap up before the cutoff

Uses more casual language like "wrap up" and "cutoff" to refer to finishing before the deadline.

be done by then

Simple and direct, indicating that the task needs to be completed by a specific future time.

finalize within the allotted period

More formal and emphasizes the constraints of a specific time frame.

accomplish in advance

Focuses on completing something earlier than required, providing a buffer.

get it done ahead of schedule

Similar to accomplishing in advance, this emphasizes the early completion of a task.

complete before expiration

Highlights finishing before something expires or becomes invalid.

FAQs

How can I use "finish in time" in a sentence?

You can use "finish in time" to indicate that something needs to be completed before a specific deadline or event. For instance, "We need to "finish in time" to meet the client's expectations."

What are some alternatives to saying "finish in time"?

Alternatives include "complete on schedule", "meet the deadline", or "be done by then", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "finish on time" or "finish in time"?

Both "finish on time" and ""finish in time"" are acceptable, but ""finish in time"" emphasizes completing something before a particular event or deadline. "Finish on time" generally indicates adhering to a set schedule.

What does it mean to "finish in time" for something?

To ""finish in time"" for something means to complete a task or project early enough to be ready or available when a specific event or deadline arrives. It indicates that you've planned and executed well enough to avoid being late.