finish the task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finish the task" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to complete a specific assignment or duty. Example: "Please make sure to finish the task by the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unfortunately, the Obama years sowed the seeds for DeVos to finish the task.

The Guardian - Opinion

Our children are the next generation who must finish the task of ending extreme poverty.

The Guardian

Hey, the Talmud says, "You are not required to finish the task".

The New Yorker

Their interest and excitement can be contagious and can spur you to finish the task.

Harvard Business Review

The Uttar Pradesh government has until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to finish the task.

The New York Times

By making people think they face a special challenge, you might help them finish the task strong.

Yale University

"Every moment," he said, they fear the drones will return to finish the task of devastating their lives.

The Guardian

An experienced stonecutter could finish the task in an afternoon, but it takes me nearly two days of steady chipping.

The New York Times - Arts

But he died in 1105, and it remained for his descendants to finish the task in 1109.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In this paper, we report our experience in having students finish the task within the virtual environment in an introductory management information system course.

Decision Support Systems

For successful completion of 'pointing and clicking' activity under different exposure conditions, the time required to finish the task was measured.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "finish the task" in professional settings, clearly define the scope of the task to avoid ambiguity and ensure everyone understands what completion entails.

Common error

Avoid declaring "finish the task" before all aspects are truly completed. Double-check requirements and deliverables to prevent later revisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finish the task" functions as a verb phrase, with "finish" acting as the main verb and "the task" as the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finish the task" is a grammatically sound and highly versatile expression for indicating the completion of a duty. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and broad applicability. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various situations. For formal communications, consider alternatives like "complete the assignment" or "execute the undertaking". While generally appropriate, be precise about what "the task" encompasses to avoid ambiguity. In summary, "finish the task" is a reliable and common phrase, but thoughtful word choice can enhance its effectiveness in specific scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete the assignment

Replaces "task" with "assignment", implying a more specific or academic duty; direct substitution.

accomplish the objective

Replaces "finish" with "accomplish" and "task" with "objective", suggesting a goal-oriented completion.

execute the undertaking

More formal; "undertaking" suggests a significant or complex task.

bring the job to completion

Emphasizes the process of bringing something to a finished state.

see the project through

Implies perseverance and dedication to completing a project.

wrap up the matter

Suggests a finalization or conclusion of a specific matter.

finalize the procedure

Relevant to formal contexts. Refers to bringing a process to its end.

conclude the activity

Formal alternative, suitable in administrative or managerial environments.

discharge the duty

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying to fulfill a duty.

discharge the assignment

To fulfil an assignment or task in a correct manner.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "finish the task" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "complete the assignment", "execute the undertaking", or "finalize the procedure".

Is it appropriate to use "finish the task" in academic writing?

Yes, "finish the task" is acceptable, but using synonyms like "complete the assignment" or "conclude the activity" can add a touch of formality and precision.

What's a more casual way to say "finish the task"?

Informally, you could say "wrap up the matter" or "see the project through", depending on the context.

How does "finish the task" differ from "complete the task"?

While similar, "complete the task" often implies a more thorough and comprehensive fulfillment of all requirements, whereas "finish the task" simply suggests bringing it to an end.