finished secondary school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finished secondary school" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the completion of high school education. Example: "After I finished secondary school, I decided to pursue a degree in engineering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

In the poorest families, only 6% of children finished secondary school.

The Guardian

Seriously!" By the time he finished secondary school he was 28.

The Guardian

He finished secondary school in Eket and began to look for a way out.

Stanford University

Skills were few: even by the mid-1980s only a third of Andalusians had finished secondary school.

The Economist

I was just a mere student, you know, just finished secondary school — and this is my aunt, this is my uncle.

The New Yorker

Reporter Humberto Padgett of the online news site Sin Embargo obtained a copy of a psychological profile from 2005 on Iván, who had barely finished secondary school.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Eight out of ten youths now finish secondary school.

The Economist

After finishing secondary school, Oleg left his apartment behind and went to Russia with four bags.

The New York Times - Magazine

After finishing secondary school in Stockholm, Ekman studied at the University of Uppsala, where he majored in physics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One study reckons that only 3% of them finish secondary school.

The Economist

After finishing secondary school, he attended the Far East All-Troops Command soheol so he could do a tour at a border outpost.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about educational attainment, ensure clarity by specifying the level of education. Use "finished secondary school" to clearly indicate completion of high school or its equivalent.

Common error

Avoid assuming "finished secondary school" is universally understood to mean the same as "completed high school". Clarify based on the region or context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished secondary school" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase, indicating the completion of a specific level of education. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finished secondary school" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the completion of secondary education. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its prevalence across diverse sources—including news outlets, scientific publications, and business reports—underscores its versatility. While alternatives such as "completed secondary education" or "graduated from secondary school" exist, "finished secondary school" remains a clear and effective way to convey this educational milestone. Ensure clarity by specifying educational levels to prevent misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed secondary education

Replaces "school" with "education" and "finished" with "completed" for a more formal tone.

graduated from secondary school

Uses "graduated from" to emphasize the successful completion of secondary school.

ended secondary schooling

Substitutes "finished" with "ended" and "school" with "schooling" while retaining the core meaning.

concluded secondary school

Employs "concluded" as a synonym for "finished", providing a slightly more formal alternative.

attained a secondary school certificate

Focuses on the attainment of a certificate as proof of completing secondary school.

completed high school

Uses the term "high school", which is often interchangeable with "secondary school", particularly in North America.

finalized secondary school studies

Replaces "finished" with "finalized" and "school" with "school studies" for a slightly more elaborate expression.

passed secondary school

Indicates successful completion of secondary school, implying passing all required courses or exams.

achieved secondary school graduation

Highlights the achievement of graduation, emphasizing the successful outcome of secondary schooling.

undertook and finished secondary school

Adds "undertook" to emphasize the effort and process of completing secondary school.

FAQs

What does "finished secondary school" mean?

The phrase "finished secondary school" refers to the completion of secondary education, which is typically equivalent to high school in many countries. It signifies that a student has completed the required courses and graduated from the secondary level of schooling.

What can I say instead of "finished secondary school"?

You can use alternatives like "completed secondary education", "graduated from secondary school", or "completed high school" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "finished secondary school"?

Yes, "finished secondary school" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the completion of secondary education. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

What is the difference between "finished secondary school" and "finished high school"?

The terms "finished secondary school" and "finished high school" are often used interchangeably, but the specific term might depend on the country or educational system being discussed. "High school" is more common in North America, while "secondary school" is used more broadly internationally.