have finally been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have finally been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred after a long wait or effort, often emphasizing a sense of relief or achievement. Example: "After years of hard work, the results of the project have finally been published."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Taboos, said Eide, have finally been lifted.

The Guardian

Dad, you have finally been rumbled.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Both of those programs have finally been put to sleep.

The New York Times - Tech

Burma's national literary awards for 2007 have finally been announced.

The New Yorker

We have finally been given the work to do.

The New Yorker

But now the roles have finally been reversed.

The New York Times - Sports

Thirty-six indigenous languages have finally been officially recognised.

The Guardian

Like Stendhal, who also wrote great love stories, Proust may have finally been impotent.

The New York Times - Books

Simpson said: "I feel total relief and that we have finally been vindicated.

The Guardian - Sport

This could have finally been the season things turned around in Phoenix.

The Guardian - Sport

And more still have finally been pushing back against pernicious national security letters in court.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have finally been," ensure the context clearly indicates what obstacle or delay was overcome. This provides a richer understanding for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "have finally been" for trivial or easily achieved actions. Save it for situations where the delay or difficulty genuinely warrants the emphasis. Overuse can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have finally been" functions as a present perfect passive construction, indicating that a past action is completed and its effects are still relevant. Ludwig AI analysis and Examples show that the adverb 'finally' emphasizes the action's delayed culmination, providing a sense of resolution.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have finally been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that adds emphasis to the completion of an action after a period of waiting or difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and widespread use across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communication. When using the phrase, remember to avoid overuse and ensure it genuinely reflects the delayed or challenging nature of the event to maximize its impact. Alternatives like "have at last been" or "have ultimately been" can provide subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have at last been

Replaces "finally" with "at last", emphasizing the duration of the wait.

have ultimately been

Substitutes "finally" with "ultimately", highlighting the eventual nature of the outcome.

have in the end been

Uses "in the end" instead of "finally", focusing on the conclusion after a process.

have eventually been

Replaces "finally" with "eventually", indicating a gradual arrival at the present state.

have now been

Shifts the focus to the present moment by using "now" instead of "finally".

have recently been

Indicates the action happened in the near past, softening the emphasis on the duration.

have just been

Implies immediacy, suggesting the action occurred very shortly before the present.

have successfully been

Adds the element of success, underlining an achievement.

have conclusively been

Emphasizes the definitive nature of the action or state.

have definitely been

Focuses on the certainty of the outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "have finally been" in a sentence?

You can use "have finally been" to indicate that something has happened after a long period. For example, "The project's results "have finally been" published after years of research".

What are some alternatives to "have finally been"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "have at last been", "have ultimately been", or "have eventually been", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "have finally been" formal or informal?

"Have finally been" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "have finally been" and "have now been"?

"Have finally been" emphasizes the duration of time before something happened, while "have now been" simply indicates that something is currently in a particular state. The former suggests a sense of relief or resolution.