finish school

USAGE SUMMARY

"finish school" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to completing one's educational studies, for example, "Jonathan promises to finish school with good grades."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I just want him to finish school".

The New Yorker

"Her father and I didn't finish school".

The New York Times

"We want to students to finish school.

The Guardian

You can finish school,'" Ms. Bellephant said.

The New York Times

"You finish school, Aaron," he told his son.

The New York Times

Wallace had the good fortune to finish school.

The New York Times - Sports

"But she still wanted me to finish school".

The New York Times

In September, Sande went back to Idaho to finish school.

Columbia University

When I finish school I want to become a footballer.

The Guardian

"I wanted to finish school," Mr. Kantor said.

The New York Times

And girls were more likely than boys to finish school.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finish school", ensure the context clearly indicates the level of education being completed (e.g., high school, college, university). Use additional information to add clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "finish school" without specifying the level of education if it's crucial to understanding. For example, instead of saying "He wants to finish school", specify "He wants to finish high school" or "He wants to finish his degree".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish school" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the completion of one's formal education. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. The examples show its use in various contexts, from personal aspirations to societal expectations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finish school" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the completion of formal education. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. Its frequency, as seen in the numerous examples, spans various contexts from personal goals to broader societal expectations, with particularly high usage in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to provide sufficient context regarding the level of education being referenced for clarity. Alternatives like "complete one's education" or "graduate" may be more suitable for formal contexts or when greater precision is needed. Always specify the level of education being completed to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete one's education

Uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the overall process of education.

graduate from school

Specifically refers to the act of receiving a diploma or degree upon completing school.

end one's schooling

Focuses on the termination of the schooling period.

conclude academic studies

A more formal and academic way of saying "finish school".

get through school

Emphasizes overcoming the challenges of schooling and completing it.

be done with school

Focuses on the state of being finished with schooling.

finish studying

Highlights the act of studying as the key component of schooling.

leave education

Focuses on the act of departing from the educational system.

terminate studies

A formal way of saying stopping school or further education.

cease schooling

A more emphatic way of indicating the end of schooling.

FAQs

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

You can use "finish school" to express the completion of an educational program, for example, "She plans to "finish school" and then travel the world".

What are some alternatives to saying "finish school"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "graduate", "complete one's education", or "end one's schooling".

Is it correct to say "finished school" instead of "finish school"?

Yes, "finished school" is the past tense form of "finish school" and is correct when referring to an action that has already been completed. For example, "He "finished school" last year".

What does it mean to "finish school"?

"Finish school" means to successfully complete a course of study at an educational institution, whether it's high school, college, or university.