finished early

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finished early" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe completing a task or activity before the expected or scheduled time. Example: "We finished early, allowing us to enjoy some extra time at the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

I finished early.

The New Yorker

He had finished early.

The New York Times - Books

I didn't drop out; I just finished early.

Harvard University

Inspectors found visits often started late and finished early.

The Guardian

Basketball (£42m) The temporary cube-shaped basketball venue is due to be finished early.

The Guardian - Sport

Nearly half of Madison's African American students fail to graduate on time there, but Robinson finished early.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

All construction is slated to be finished early next year.

The Guardian

Counting of hundreds of ballots finished early today.

The New York Times

The consulting firm's study will be finished early next month.

The New York Times

The eventual result was the Big Dig House, which was finished early last year.

The New Yorker

Mr. Smith said the building would be finished early next year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "finished early" when you want to communicate that a task or event was completed before its scheduled or expected time. This can be useful for conveying efficiency or unexpected outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "finished early" when the completion was rushed or of poor quality. The phrase generally suggests a positive outcome of early completion, so ensure it aligns with the overall context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished early" typically functions as a verb phrase indicating the completion of an action or event before the expected or scheduled time. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finished early" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression indicating completion before the expected time, as validated by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts but also appears in academic and scientific writing. While versatile, it is essential to ensure the context aligns with the generally positive connotation of efficiency. For more formal settings, consider alternatives such as "completed ahead of schedule". Ludwig AI confirms its broad acceptability and practical usage across various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed ahead of schedule

Emphasizes the completion being before the planned timeline.

wrapped up early

A more informal way of saying something concluded sooner than expected.

concluded prematurely

Highlights the fact that something ended before its natural or intended endpoint.

ended in advance

Focuses on the ending happening before the anticipated time.

finalized beforehand

Stresses the completion of final steps before the expected deadline.

terminated early

A formal term suggesting an earlier cessation of something.

stopped ahead of time

Indicates an interruption or conclusion before the set timeframe.

accomplished sooner

Highlights achieving something more quickly than anticipated.

discontinued prematurely

Implies an unintended or unexpected early halt.

ceased operation early

Focuses on the cessation of operations or activities before the scheduled end.

FAQs

What does "finished early" mean?

"Finished early" means that a task, event, or activity was completed before the originally scheduled or expected time.

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

You can use "finished early" to describe the completion of a task ahead of schedule, such as: "We "finished early" and were able to leave work an hour early."

What are some alternatives to saying "finished early"?

You can use alternatives like "completed ahead of schedule", "wrapped up early", or "concluded prematurely" depending on the context.

Is it acceptable to use "finished early" in formal writing?

Yes, "finished early" is acceptable in both formal and informal writing. However, for very formal contexts, you might consider using a more precise alternative like "completed ahead of schedule".