finish the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finish the question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to complete an incomplete question or to clarify what they are trying to ask. Example: "I didn't quite catch what you were asking. Can you please finish the question?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"But how — ?" I exclaimed, unable to finish the question.

The New Yorker

He cuts me off before I can finish the question.

The Guardian - Sport

He jumped in before I could even finish the question, nodding his head assertively.

The New York Times

He begins to shake his head before I can even finish the question.

The New York Times

"Classic narcissist," he said, barely giving me time to finish the question.

The Guardian

JUDGE KLEIN: Let him finish the question first and then make your objection, and I will rule.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

I just wanted to finish the questions, because in my mind I never did anything wrong.

Science Magazine

When they finish the questions, they'll be able to see how their scores compared with other teams.

TechCrunch

Even if you rely heavily on the answer manual, try to finish the questions without copying the key.

WikiHow

"No! Definitely not," he said before I finished the question.

The New Yorker

"Obama", he says, before I have even finished the question, followed almost as quickly by "9/11".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to articulate their full thought or inquiry, use "finish the question" to politely prompt them to provide all necessary details for understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "finish the question" when someone has already clearly articulated their inquiry. Instead, focus on directly addressing their points to maintain a natural flow of conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish the question" functions as an imperative, prompting someone to complete their incomplete inquiry. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finish the question" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for requesting someone to complete their question. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While not exceedingly common, the phrase sees use across various contexts, particularly in news, wikis, and scientific domains. To promote clarity and effective communication, use "finish the question" when needing someone to articulate all details of their inquiry, and make sure the question hasn't already been fully expressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete the question

Replaces "finish" with "complete", emphasizing the act of making the question whole.

conclude the question

Substitutes "finish" with "conclude", focusing on the termination of the questioning process.

end the question

Replaces "finish" with "end", highlighting the cessation of the question.

bring the question to a close

Uses a more formal and elaborate way to express the idea of finalizing the question.

finalise the question

Substitutes "finish" with "finalise", which implies making the final adjustments or decisions related to the question.

round off the question

Replaces "finish" with "round off", which refers to completing something in a satisfactory manner.

wind up the question

Substitutes "finish" with "wind up", which means to bring something to a close.

put the finishing touches on the question

Replaces "finish" with a more elaborate phrase, signifying making final refinements to the question.

determine the question

Focuses on establishing or deciding the question, rather than just completing it.

settle the question

Implies resolving or deciding on the question after discussion or consideration.

FAQs

How can I politely ask someone to clarify their incomplete question using "finish the question"?

You can say, "Could you please /s/finish+the+question, I want to ensure I understand what you're asking." This prompts them to complete their thought without implying impatience.

Is it appropriate to use "finish the question" in a formal setting?

Yes, it is acceptable. In formal contexts, it serves as a polite way to request clarification or completion of an inquiry. Alternatives like "Could you /s/complete+the+question" or "Could you /s/elaborate+on+the+question" may also be suitable.

What's the difference between "/s/finish+the+question" and "/s/elaborate+on+the+question"?

"Finish the question" is used when the person didn't fully express their question, whereas "elaborate on the question" is used when you want to get more details and information about a question that was already expressed completely.

When is it inappropriate to use "finish the question"?

Avoid using "finish the question" when the person has clearly articulated their inquiry and you fully understand it. In such cases, asking them to reiterate can be perceived as dismissive or condescending.