finishing over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finishing over" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where one is completing something in a manner that surpasses or exceeds expectations, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "She was finishing over her previous record in the competition."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Dario Beni soloed to victory in the seventh leg, finishing over a minute ahead of the second place finisher Santhià.

Wikipedia

They incur penalties for knocking rails off the fences or for finishing over the time limit.

The Guardian - Sport

He added: "Tyson did a great job last night of establishing post position and finishing over the top with jump hooks.

The New York Times - Sports

Their showdown in the 400 individual medley on Friday was the swimming equivalent of a first-round knockout, with Cseh falling behind both Lochte and the American Tyler Clary on the butterfly leg on his way to finishing over a body-length behind Lochte (3 minutes 59.52 seconds) and Clary (4 00.35).

The New York Times - Sports

However, Laverty struggled to compete with Sykes at Magny Cours, finishing over 10 seconds behind the championship pacesetter in both races.

BBC

Merrien, who was only selected for London after an appeal, was the highest placing British athlete in the men's race at the Games, finishing over five-and-a-half minutes ahead of teammate Scott Overall in two hours and 17 mins.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Everything was finished, over with.

The New York Times

"The tax issue is finished, over, completed," declared the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell.

The New York Times

"The tax issue is finished, over, completed," said the senator from Kentucky.

The Guardian

That's right: he's well and truly finished over there!

Independent

That is, the effects of QE2, which finished over a year ago, will now be largely diminishing.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finishing over", ensure the context clearly indicates that something is being completed to a degree that surpasses a specific benchmark or expectation. Clarity is key due to its non-standard usage.

Common error

Avoid using "finishing over" in formal or academic writing where precision and clarity are paramount. Opt for more standard alternatives such as "surpassing" or "exceeding" to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finishing over" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition, describing the act of completing something to a degree that exceeds a certain standard or expectation. However, Ludwig indicates it is not a standard usage, so care should be taken.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finishing over" is used to describe completing something in a way that surpasses expectations. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not standard in written English and may cause confusion. Therefore, while not strictly incorrect, it's advisable to use clearer alternatives like "surpassing" or "exceeding", especially in formal or academic contexts. The phrase appears in News & Media, Wiki, and Science sources, but careful consideration of the intended meaning and audience is crucial. Using alternative phrasing ensures better clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpassing in finishing

Directly indicates outperforming others while completing a task.

outperforming in closing

Focuses on exceeding expectations during the final act or closing stages.

completing beyond

Focuses on the act of completing something to a degree exceeding expectations.

outdoing at the finish

Implies achieving more than expected right at the end.

concluding above

Emphasizes the finality of the action at a higher level.

excelling in completion

Suggests outstanding performance during the final stages.

exceeding upon completion

Highlights surpassing a target or goal as something concludes.

bettering upon conclusion

Indicates improvement over a previous state as something concludes.

culminating above and beyond

Highlights an ultimate point that not only concludes but significantly surpasses ordinary expectations.

climaxing beyond expectations

Emphasizes a peak or high point exceeding what was anticipated as the conclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "finishing over" in a sentence?

While not a standard phrase, "finishing over" can be used to describe completing something in a way that surpasses expectations, such as "She was finishing over her previous record in the competition". Consider alternatives like "surpassing" or "exceeding" for clearer communication.

What are some alternatives to "finishing over"?

You can use phrases like "completing beyond", "surpassing in finishing", or "exceeding upon completion" depending on the context.

Is "finishing over" grammatically correct?

The phrase "finishing over" isn't strictly incorrect, but it's not standard English. Ludwig AI indicates it's better to opt for clearer alternatives like "surpassing" or "exceeding" to ensure precision in writing.

When should I avoid using "finishing over"?

Avoid using "finishing over" in formal writing or situations where clarity is crucial. Choose more common and accepted alternatives to avoid confusion.