finish talking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'finish talking' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone is trying to end an ongoing conversation. For example: "Let's finish talking about this so we can move on to the next topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

11 30 p.m. Finish talking to Thomas.

The New York Times

It also means we can finish talking about the situation.

Independent

I can't wait to finish talking to you so I can go get me some more".

The New York Times - Sports

As we finish talking, I ask Luke how he's feeling about going to court.

The Guardian - Opinion

We finish talking about the Mercury prize, which will be awarded on 15 September.

The Guardian - Music

I was waiting for her to finish talking so I could go.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

That she was finished talking about it.

The New York Times - Magazine

After that answer, he was finished talking.

The New York Times - Sports

After Marquez finished talking, he was arrested.

The New Yorker

I've finished talking about Eric Cantona.

The Guardian - Sport

When he had finished talking there was silence.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "finish talking" when you want to clearly indicate the end of a conversation or discussion. Be mindful of the context and choose a synonym if a more formal or informal tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "finish talking" mid-sentence when you actually mean 'while talking' or 'during the conversation'. "Finish talking" implies the conversation is concluding, not in progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish talking" functions as a verb phrase, often used to indicate the completion of a conversation or discussion. It's commonly used in everyday language to signal the end of a verbal exchange. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a grammatically sound phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "finish talking" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to denote the end of a conversation or discussion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a straightforward way to signal the completion of a verbal exchange. Analysis of its usage across different sources shows that is primarily used in “News & Media”, “Wiki”, and “Formal & Business” contexts, it has a neutral tone, and has related alternatives such as "conclude the conversation" and "stop talking". Remember to use it accurately to avoid suggesting that you are ending the conversation when you simply want to communicate something else.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop talking

Direct and simple way of expressing the end of speaking.

conclude the conversation

Implies a formal ending to the exchange.

end the discussion

Focuses on the cessation of a structured debate or exchange of ideas.

be done talking

Expresses the state of having completed a conversation.

wrap up the chat

Suggests an informal closing of a casual conversation.

cease speaking

Highlights the act of stopping the vocal communication.

get through talking

Focuses on the completion of conveying all necessary information.

break off the conversation

Suggests an abrupt ending to a conversation.

suspend the discussion

Implies a temporary halt to a debate or conversation.

close the subject

Indicates a decision to no longer discuss a particular topic.

FAQs

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

You can use "finish talking" to indicate the end of a conversation. For example: "Let's "finish talking" about this later" or "I'll call you when I "finish talking" to John".

What's a more formal way to say "finish talking"?

For a more formal alternative, you could say "conclude the conversation" or "end the discussion". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic settings.

Is it grammatically correct to say "finished talking"?

Yes, "finished talking" is grammatically correct. It's the past participle form, indicating that the action of talking has been completed. For instance, "After we "finished talking", we went for lunch."

When should I use "stop talking" instead of "finish talking"?

"Stop talking" is used to tell someone to be quiet or cease speaking immediately. "Finish talking" indicates the natural end of a conversation or discussion. For example, you might say "Please "stop talking"!" if someone is being disruptive, whereas "Let's "finish talking" about this tomorrow" suggests postponing a discussion.