having finished

USAGE SUMMARY

"having finished" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to the completion of something that has been in progress. For example, "Having finished the report, she was ready to submit it to her boss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Having finished, June sat quietly.

The New Yorker

Having finished the Blue-Plate Special.

The New Yorker

Having finished it, she called him three times.

The Guardian

So my father, having finished his work, just stood there.

The New York Times

Could the writing master done the drawings as Jan's reward for having finished his lesson?

Princeton University

I'm now feeling irresponsible for not having finished the book before giving him a copy.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Are we better since the trade?" he said, relaxing at courtside, having finished a recent practice.

The New York Times - Sports

Never having finished grammar school, as a boy Mr. Fibel began taking odd jobs locally.

The New York Times

With all the other swimmers having finished, she gasped for air and clutched the lane divider.

The New York Times - Sports

Having finished second here in 2005, McGinley and Wentworth could be about to consummate that affair.

Independent

On the other, the books we've sort of read and glibly lie about having finished.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having finished" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, ensuring the completed action precedes the subsequent action in the sentence.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by placing the phrase "having finished" close to the subject that performed the action. Otherwise, it might seem like someone or something else completed the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having finished" functions as a perfect gerund phrase, modifying a clause by indicating a completed action prior to the action in the main clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having finished" is a grammatically correct and versatile gerund phrase used to indicate the completion of an action before another occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's well-regarded and accepted in various writing styles. Its temporal function helps clarify the sequence of events, making it a useful tool for clear and concise writing. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, pay attention to modifier placement to prevent ambiguity. It’s frequently used across News & Media and Scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once finished

A more concise way to express the same idea, implying a condition.

on finishing

Similar in meaning but slightly less formal.

after completing

Emphasizes the action of completing rather than the state of being finished.

having concluded

More formal, implying a sense of finality or conclusion.

after the finish of

Focuses on the end point more directly.

upon completion of

More formal alternative emphasizing the moment of completion.

once finalized

Focuses on the final stage of completion or approval.

following the completion of

Similar to "upon completion of" but slightly more verbose.

with the completion of

Focuses on the act of completing as a necessary precursor.

subsequent to finishing

A more formal and less common alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "having finished" in a sentence?

Use "having finished" to indicate an action that was completed before another action took place. For example, "Having finished the report, she went home" shows that completing the report came before going home.

What are some alternatives to "having finished"?

You can use alternatives like "after completing", "once finished", or "upon completion of" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "having finished" or "after finishing"?

Both "having finished" and "after finishing" are grammatically correct. "Having finished" emphasizes the completion of the action and its direct impact on the subsequent action. "After finishing" simply indicates a sequence of events.

What's the difference between "having finished" and "having been finished"?

"Having finished" implies that the subject actively completed an action. "Having been finished" suggests that something was done to the subject. For instance, "Having finished the work, I left" versus "Having been finished with the project by the team, the manager approved it."