finished fifth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finished fifth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the position someone or something achieved in a competition or ranking, specifically indicating that they placed fifth. Example: "In the recent marathon, she finished fifth, just a few seconds behind the fourth-place runner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Devonish finished fifth in 20.45sec.

Independent

Thompson finished fifth in 58.73.

The New York Times - Sports

Petrova finished fifth in 32 36.

The New York Times - Sports

It finished fifth, a distant 6.045 points behind China.

The New York Times - Sports

Then he finished fifth at the 2009 national championships.

The New York Times

In 1999, West Ham finished fifth.

Wikipedia

It had finished fifth at the Indianapolis 500 in 1999.

Forbes

(His father finished fifth).

The New York Times

Schumacher finished fifth.

The New York Times

The Briton finished fifth.

The New York Times - Sports

(He finished fifth overall).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting results, use "finished fifth" to clearly and concisely indicate the final ranking in a competition or sequence. It's universally understood and suitable for most contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "finished five" instead of "finished fifth". "Fifth" is the ordinal number indicating position, whereas "five" is a cardinal number indicating quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished fifth" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence, specifying the outcome or final position achieved by a subject. It combines a verb ("finished") with an ordinal numeral ("fifth") to denote a specific ranking, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finished fifth" is a straightforward and widely understood way to indicate a specific ranking or position in a competition or sequence. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While alternatives like "placed fifth" or "ranked fifth" exist, "finished fifth" remains a clear and concise choice. When using this phrase, ensure you use the ordinal number "fifth" rather than the cardinal number "five" to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

placed fifth

Replaces the verb "finished" with "placed", maintaining the same meaning.

ended in fifth position

Uses "ended" instead of "finished", focusing on the final outcome.

ranked fifth

Uses "ranked" instead of "finished", implying a specific ranking system.

came in fifth place

Adds the phrase "came in" and specifies "place", offering a slightly more descriptive alternative.

secured fifth position

Replaces "finished" with "secured" and "fifth" with "fifth position", suggesting a hard-earned placement.

achieved fifth rank

Uses "achieved" to emphasize accomplishment, paired with "fifth rank".

attained fifth spot

Substitutes "finished" with "attained" and "fifth" with "fifth spot", implying achievement.

held fifth position

Suggests stability in the position achieved

wound up in fifth place

Employs "wound up", which is more casual, and specifies "place", indicating an eventual outcome.

was fifth

A more concise version using "was", omitting the verb "finished" for brevity.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "finished fifth"?

When someone "finished fifth", it means they achieved fifth place in a competition, race, or ranking system. It indicates their position relative to other participants.

What can I say instead of "finished fifth"?

You can use alternatives like "placed fifth", "ranked fifth", or "came in fifth place" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "finished five" instead of "finished fifth"?

No, it is incorrect. "Finished fifth" uses the ordinal number "fifth" to indicate the position, whereas "finished five" uses the cardinal number "five" and doesn't make sense in this context.

In what contexts is "finished fifth" commonly used?

"Finished fifth" is commonly used in sports reporting, news articles, and general discussions about rankings and competitions. It's a straightforward way to communicate results in a clear and concise manner.