finish on time

USAGE SUMMARY

"finish on time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to suggest that tasks or projects should be completed before a certain deadline. For example, "We need to make sure that we finish the project on time by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It'll finish on time.

The New York Times

Will yoyo finish on time.

University of California, Berkeley

Our destination was arbitrary, our timeframe uncalculated, but we had to finish on time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Only Wyandanch, Hempstead and Roosevelt had fewer than half their students finish on time.

The New York Times

"We're in prayer mode to finish on time," Susan Bucher, the county elections supervisor, said.

The New York Times

To finish on time, the girls worked over the fasting month of Ramadan.

The Guardian

This makes helping the college student finish on time, and with good grades, all the more critical.

Stanford University

We had to terminate them both, fix their mistakes and finish on time to avoid serious liquidated damages.

The New York Times

Ironically, or perhaps not, it was this old-tech part of the game that didn't finish on time.

The New Yorker

And I've even managed to finish on time, so I won't have to keep the next patient waiting.

The New York Times - Health

Virgin Rail managers fear Railtrack will finish on time only by skimping on quality, storing up future problems.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When managing projects, use "finish on time" to set clear expectations and monitor progress against deadlines. This helps ensure team alignment and proactive issue resolution.

Common error

Avoid using "finish on time" as a mere aspiration without backing it up with a feasible plan, resource allocation, and risk management strategy. Unrealistic optimism can lead to missed deadlines and compromised quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish on time" functions as a verbal phrase, often acting as part of a predicate in a sentence. It typically describes the action of completing a task or project by a specified deadline. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is common and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finish on time" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that emphasizes the importance of meeting deadlines. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is employed across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. To enhance your writing, ensure that stating you will "finish on time" is supported by realistic planning and resource allocation. Be mindful of overpromising without a solid strategy. Instead of just saying "finish on time", you could also use alternatives like "meet the deadline" or "complete promptly" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve timely completion

Emphasizes both the success in completing a task and doing so within the designated time.

finalize by the due date

Specifies completion by a set date, making the deadline aspect more explicit.

meet the deadline

Highlights adherence to a specific deadline, shifting the focus from the act of finishing to meeting a target.

deliver on schedule

Focuses on delivering a result as planned, particularly suitable for projects or tasks with defined schedules.

stick to the schedule

Similar to 'adhere to the timeline', focusing on consistent alignment with a planned schedule.

complete promptly

Focuses on quick completion, emphasizing speed alongside timeliness.

end within the timeframe

Indicates concluding an activity within its allocated time, useful when discussing project management.

adhere to the timeline

Stresses sticking to a predefined timeline, suitable for projects with multiple stages.

conclude punctually

Emphasizes the exactness of timing, suggesting a strict adherence to the scheduled end.

wrap up as planned

Highlights finishing according to an initial plan, covering both completion and timing.

FAQs

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

You can use "finish on time" to express the importance of meeting deadlines, such as, "It is crucial that we "finish on time" to avoid penalties."

What does it mean to "finish on time"?

To "finish on time" means to complete a task or project by the specified deadline or scheduled end date.

Which is correct, "finish on time" or "finish in time"?

"Finish on time" and "finish in time" have slightly different meanings. "Finish on time" means completing something exactly when scheduled. "Finish in time" implies completing something before a deadline, leaving some time to spare.

What can I say instead of "finish on time"?

Alternatives to "finish on time" include "meet the deadline", "complete promptly", or "deliver on schedule".