finished the course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finished the course" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone has completed a specific educational program or training. Example: "After months of hard work, she finally finished the course and received her certification."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Stanley" finished the course in a little under seven hours.

The Economist

They were the men and women who finished the course.

The Guardian - Sport

Ill-prepared for the challenge, she finished the course in a limping, tearful 23rd.

Independent

When she finished the course, the purse contained almost £1,200.

Independent

Stanley, Stanford University's modified Volkswagen Touareg, won the money; four other vehicles also finished the course.

The Economist

Mr. Vadas finished the course in 24.10 seconds, good for 252nd or 88th percentile.

The New York Times

Mr. Downey gave Mr. Bhandari all the time he needed, and ultimately he finished the course.

The New York Times

Mr. Forbes finished the course two weeks late, and took the Advanced Placement exam.

The New York Times

"I actually finished the course at work on my lunch hour, and it was incredibly convenient".

The New York Times - Tech

A few more have actually finished the course though, which is an improvement on earlier.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Quinones, a Bronx resident who recently finished the course, expressed interest in computer networking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "finished the course" to clearly indicate the successful completion of a structured educational program or training. It's straightforward and widely understood.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse completing a course with beginning one. "Finished the course" indicates completion, while "started the course" means only the initial phase has begun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished the course" functions as a declarative statement indicating the completion of a defined set of lessons or educational program. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. It conveys that all requirements have been met.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "finished the course" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to indicate the successful completion of a course or program. As Ludwig AI shows, it is primarily used in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While alternatives like "completed the program" or "concluded the curriculum" exist, "finished the course" is direct and easily understood. Remember to avoid confusing it with terms like "started the course". It appears frequently across diverse authoritative sources, making it a versatile and reliable expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed the program

Focuses on completing a structured set of activities or training.

concluded the curriculum

Highlights the end of a specific educational plan.

graduated from the training

Implies a formal recognition of completing training.

passed the subject

Indicates successful completion of a specific subject within a course.

mastered the material

Emphasizes comprehension and expertise gained during the course.

fulfilled the requirements

Highlights meeting specific criteria to complete the course.

finalized the studies

Focuses on the end of a period of academic studies.

went through the lessons

Highlights the process of learning.

brought the learning to an end

More formal, but carries the same meaning of ending a learning process.

saw the material to completion

Highlights perseverance and seeing a task through to the end.

FAQs

What does "finished the course" mean?

The phrase "finished the course" indicates that someone has successfully completed all the requirements of a specific educational program, training, or set of lessons.

What can I say instead of "finished the course"?

You can use alternatives like "completed the program", "concluded the curriculum", or "graduated from the training" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "finished the course"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to indicate the completion of a course.

What's the difference between "finished the course" and "completed the course"?

The phrases "finished the course" and "completed the course" are largely interchangeable. Both indicate that someone has successfully fulfilled all the requirements of a specific course or program. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.