finishing work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finishing work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe completing a task or job. For example, "John is finishing work in the office this afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're finishing work at the United Nations.

The New York Times

He is finishing work on a novel.

The New Yorker

Which is "lord of kitchen," finishing work, polishing work.

The Washington Post

I get three hours' sleep after finishing work at 7.30am.

The Guardian

The vacancies have kept the commission from finishing work on several important matters.

The New York Times

Mr Otto performs finishing work on the 5/8″ wooden dowels used for handles.

The New York Times

Ocean is currently finishing work on his follow-up to 2012's Channel Orange.

The Guardian - Music

The finishing work will be done by a concessionaire, which has not yet been chosen.

The New York Times

Bozelko liked to read in the evenings, after finishing work shifts in the kitchen.

The Guardian

Commendably, Congress is finishing work on its own package of reforms.

The New York Times

"We should be starting between 7.30am and 9am and never finishing work later than 6pm.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing project timelines, clarify what "finishing work" entails – whether it includes final revisions, testing, or documentation. This ensures everyone is on the same page.

Common error

Ensure that the context clearly indicates what "finishing work" refers to. Vague references can lead to misunderstandings about which tasks are being completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finishing work" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act of bringing a task or project to completion, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

10%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finishing work" is a versatile and commonly used gerund phrase that describes the act of completing a task. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While several alternatives exist, such as "completing work" and "finalizing work", the best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to be clear about what "finishing work" entails to avoid ambiguity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finalizing work

This alternative focuses on the act of bringing a task to its ultimate conclusion.

completing work

This alternative emphasizes the achievement of finishing all necessary parts of a task.

concluding work

This alternative highlights the act of bringing work to an end or a resolution.

accomplishing work

This alternative emphasizes the successful completion of the work.

to end work

This alternative focuses on the simple action of stopping or concluding the work.

end work

This alternative is a shorter, more direct way of saying to stop working.

finishing jobs

This alternative uses the plural form of "job" implying the completion of multiple tasks.

finishing tasks

This alternative uses the plural form of "task" referring to the completion of multiple smaller assignments.

concluded work

This alternative highlights that the work is already finished.

concluding activities

This alternative substitutes "work" with "activities", slightly changing the context to imply finishing various actions.

FAQs

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

You can use "finishing work" to describe the act of completing a task. For example: "I am "completing work" on the report this week" or "The team is "finalizing work" before the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "finishing work"?

Alternatives include "completing work", "finalizing work", "concluding work", or "accomplishing work". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "finishing work" or "completing the work"?

Both phrases are correct, but "completing the work" is generally more formal and specific. "Finishing work" can be used more broadly. The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What does "finishing work" typically include?

"Finishing work" can include a variety of tasks such as final revisions, quality checks, documentation, and ensuring all aspects of a project are "completely done".