however finally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however finally" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It combines two contrasting conjunctions that create confusion in meaning. Example: "The project faced many challenges; however finally, we completed it on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

The two-inch plate, however, finally stopped it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Duhalde, however, finally won the Peronist nomination in the 1999 election.

The New York Times

I did, however, finally see the light – or, I should say, the dark.

The Guardian - Books

John Huston did, however, finally have Paula Strasberg, Monroe's acting coach, barred from the set.

The New York Times

They can, however, finally present evidence of their motive in front of a jury.

The Guardian

The Caroline Clive project was not forgotten, however, finally appearing in print in 1949.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Later that year, however, he finally caught Morceli, winning the Grand Prix final in Milan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, they finally failed".

The Guardian

Mortadella, however, has finally been freed.

The New York Times

However, he finally declared himself "gassed".

The Guardian

This year, however, they finally consented to a superficial inspection.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "however finally" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "however, eventually" or "nevertheless, ultimately" to ensure grammatical correctness and improve clarity.

Common error

Don't combine "however" and "finally" as they create redundancy and confusion. "However" indicates contrast, while "finally" denotes completion or sequence. Using them together weakens your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however finally" functions as a conjunction phrase attempting to connect contrasting ideas with a sense of culmination. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this combination is generally considered grammatically incorrect and stylistically weak.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "however finally" appears in various online sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and stylistically weak. It attempts to combine the contrasting nature of "however" with the concluding sense of "finally", leading to redundancy and awkwardness. As exemplified by the diverse range of contexts found by Ludwig, including news articles, scientific publications, and encyclopedias, the phrase is common, but not recommended for formal writing. Stronger, clearer alternatives such as "however, eventually" or "nevertheless, ultimately" offer better grammatical precision and enhance overall writing quality. Therefore, while "however finally" may be encountered, opting for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, eventually

Replaces "finally" with "eventually" to emphasize the passage of time before the outcome, maintaining a smooth flow.

nevertheless, ultimately

Substitutes both "however" and "finally" with stronger, more formal alternatives that clearly indicate contrast and conclusion.

nonetheless, in the end

Offers a slightly less formal alternative to "nevertheless, ultimately", while still conveying the contrast and eventual resolution.

yet, in conclusion

Provides a concise way to express the contrast and the final result, suitable for situations where brevity is preferred.

despite everything, finally

Adds emphasis to the obstacles faced before the final outcome, highlighting the perseverance required.

regardless, in due course

Implies that the outcome happened naturally over time, despite any initial challenges or obstacles.

that being said, ultimately

Introduces a contrasting point before arriving at the final result, suitable for more complex arguments.

even so, eventually

Suggests that the outcome was somewhat unexpected, given the circumstances, but still occurred over time.

be that as it may, in the end

Presents a more formal way of acknowledging a previous point before stating the final outcome.

all the same, at last

Conveys a sense of relief or satisfaction that the outcome was finally achieved, despite previous difficulties.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "however finally"?

The phrase "however finally" is grammatically awkward. "However" introduces a contrast, while "finally" indicates completion. Using them together can create redundancy and confusion, according to Ludwig AI.

What can I say instead of "however finally"?

Instead of "however finally", consider using alternatives like "however, eventually", "nevertheless, ultimately", or "nonetheless, in the end" for clearer and more grammatically sound writing.

Is it ever correct to use "however finally" in a sentence?

While you might encounter the phrase "however finally" in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect and stylistically weak. Opt for stronger alternatives to improve clarity.

Which is correct, "however, eventually" or "however finally"?

"however, eventually" is the correct and grammatically sound choice. "However finally" is generally considered incorrect due to the conflicting nature of the two adverbs.