finish on date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finish on date" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a deadline or completion date for a task or project. Example: "Please ensure that you finish on date to meet the project deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Madsen-Mygdal's best TT finish to date is fourth.

BBC

The band played Dookie from start to finish on several dates on their European leg, including during Reading Festival 2013 headline show.

Wikipedia

"You're always on dates.

The New Yorker

Keep going on dates.

WikiHow

It was a competition with a tight deadline to finish on a specific date, making it quite a stressful experience for the team.

Huffington Post

Finish on day thirteen.

WikiHow

The "Live and Re-Wrapped" tour, with 28 dates, will finish on Sept. 24 in Miami, Ms. Estefan's hometown, said a Reuters-Billboard report.

The New York Times

The parties are going to meet and are going to take the right decisions so that the league finishes on the set date".

The Guardian - Sport

" Finish with the date you accessed it.

WikiHow

Finish with the date of the interview.

WikiHow

Finish with the date it was accessed online.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, replace "finish on date" with "complete by [date]" or "finish by [date]" to clearly indicate a deadline or target completion time.

Common error

Avoid using "on" to indicate deadlines. Instead, use "by" to specify that something needs to be completed no later than a certain date. "Finish by date" is the correct preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish on date" functions as a prepositional phrase, attempting to specify a completion time. However, as indicated by Ludwig, its grammatical structure is not standard, making its usage questionable. Instead, other expressions may be more efficient.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finish on date" is not grammatically correct in standard English and attempts to indicate a completion deadline. As Ludwig points out, it is better to use alternatives like "finish by date" or "complete by date" for clarity and precision. The phrase appears across various contexts but is generally considered informal and unsuitable for formal writing. Therefore, it's advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finish by date

This phrase replaces "on" with "by", clarifying that the date is a deadline.

complete by date

This alternative uses "complete" instead of "finish" and "by" to indicate a deadline, making it clearer.

be finished by date

Passive form using "finished", similar to "be completed by date".

finalize by date

"Finalize" emphasizes the completion of all necessary steps by a specific date.

be completed by date

This passive construction clarifies the action's completion before the date.

conclude by date

Using "conclude" offers a more formal synonym for "finish", suitable for professional contexts.

end on date

Replaces "finish" with "end", maintaining a similar meaning of termination at a specified time.

wrap up by date

Offers a more informal way to indicate completion by a certain date.

reach completion by date

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing the process of reaching completion.

achieve completion by date

This alternative emphasizes accomplishment, indicating the target completion time.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to say "finish on date"?

The phrase "finish on date" is not considered grammatically correct. Alternatives such as "finish by date" or "complete by date" are better choices to indicate a deadline.

What does "finish on date" mean?

The intended meaning of "finish on date" is to specify a completion deadline. However, it's grammatically awkward, making alternatives like "complete by date" clearer.

Is "finish on date" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "finish on date" is not suitable for formal writing. Use more precise and grammatically correct options such as "finalize by date" or "conclude by date" in formal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "finish on date" that convey the same meaning?

Alternatives to "finish on date" include "complete by date", "finish by date", or "be completed by date", all of which express the idea of completing something by a particular deadline.