finished by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finished by" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to show the performer or agent of an action. It is usually used in passive voice sentences, where the subject is not the performer of the action. For example: The painting was finished by the artist. In this sentence, "the artist" is the performer or agent of the action "finished." Here, the focus is on the painting being completed, not on the artist who completed it. Another example: The project was finished by the team. In this sentence, "the team" is the performer of the action "finished." Again, the focus is on the project being completed, not on the individual team members. You can also use "finished by" to refer to the source of information or where something comes from: The report was finished by consulting multiple sources. Here, "consulting multiple sources" shows where the information for the report came from. In summary, "finished by" is used to show the performer or agent of an action, or to indicate the source of information or origin of something. It is typically used in passive voice sentences.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It should be finished by July.

The New York Times

and finished by Graham in 1978.

Harvard University

The credits are finished by this point.

The Washington Post

The job was finished by noon.

The New Yorker

They finished by winning seven of eight.

The New York Times - Sports

We might be finished by Tuesday".

The Guardian

We're expecting it to be finished by the morning.

University of California, Berkeley

Major changes are scheduled to be finished by 2016.

The New York Times

"Our goal is to be finished by Friday".

The New York Times - Arts

Hiring new contractors, he had the sanctuary finished by July.

The New York Times

They hope to have it finished by 2013.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finished by" in a sentence, ensure the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. This phrase is most effective in passive voice constructions to emphasize the completion or the agent performing the action.

Common error

Avoid using "finished by" in active voice sentences. This can lead to awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. Ensure that the subject receives the action, rather than performing it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished by" primarily functions as a passive voice marker, indicating the agent or means by which an action was completed. Ludwig's examples show this in various contexts, such as "The job was finished by noon".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

22%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finished by" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate agency in passive voice constructions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used to specify who or what completed an action. The phrase appears most often in News & Media, Science and Academia, suggesting its versatility across different registers. When writing, remember to use "finished by" in passive voice sentences to accurately attribute completion. Alternatives like "completed by" or "concluded by" can be used to add variety, although they may carry slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed by

Focuses more on the act of completing something, similar to "finished by".

finalized by

Suggests that the last steps of a process have been completed.

concluded by

Emphasizes the ending or termination of an event or process.

executed by

Highlights the performance or carrying out of a task or plan.

performed by

Similar to executed, but emphasizes the action or skill involved.

achieved by

Focuses on the result or accomplishment obtained through a particular means.

fulfilled by

Emphasizes the satisfaction of a requirement or expectation.

accomplished by

Highlights the successful completion of a challenging task.

brought about by

Indicates that something was caused or made to happen by a particular factor.

determined by

Indicates that something is decided or influenced by a specific factor.

FAQs

How can I use "finished by" in a sentence?

The phrase "finished by" is typically used in passive voice constructions to indicate who or what completed an action. For example, "The report was "finished by" the team" shows who completed the report.

What are some alternatives to "finished by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "completed by", "concluded by", or "executed by" to convey similar meanings.

Is it correct to say "The work was finished by noon"?

Yes, that's a correct and common usage of "finished by". It indicates the time by which the work was completed.

What is the difference between "finished by" and "finished with"?

"Finished by" indicates who or what completed something, while "finished with" indicates that someone is done using something or has ended a relationship. For example, "The project was finished by the team," versus, "I am finished with this book".