left to finish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left to finish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something remains to complete a task or activity. Example: "After everyone else had left, I was the only one left to finish the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

I am left to finish off.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Halep, meanwhile, has business left to finish in Paris.

The Guardian - Sport

She finally took a job at Compass, which she just left to finish a book.

The New York Times - Food

August 8, 2012 True, but will they have any players left to finish the game?

The Guardian - Sport

By the fourth-last fence, no one was left to finish, and the race was about to be declared void.

The Guardian - Sport

However, instead of celebrating tonight as he had hoped, Sutton was forced to sleep with the lead, knowing there would be seven difficult holes left to finish.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Turn off the heat and leave to finish cooking for another 5 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The son of a farmer, he joined the jihad against the Soviet occupation as a teenager before leaving to finish his education in Pakistan.

The New York Times

Hyman, who was on leave to finish writing her book on Renaissance erotic poetry, wore bright-red cat's-eye glasses and matching lipstick.

The New Yorker

These directors are leaving when Yahoo's hard work is still left to be finished.

The New York Times

MacArthur was some 70 miles behind Desjoyeaux with 2,400 miles left to the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne, France.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "left to finish" when you want to emphasize that something remains to be completed, often implying a sense of urgency or incompletion. For example, "With only a few hours left, there's still much "left to finish"."

Common error

Avoid using "left to finish" when the task is already fully completed or when there's no expectation of further work. It suggests a state of incompletion, so ensure that's the intended message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left to finish" functions as a verb phrase typically used as part of a larger clause. It indicates the remaining part of an action or task that needs to be completed. Ludwig provides several examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "left to finish" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something remains incomplete. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples of its usage in varied contexts such as news, wikis, and scientific publications. While versatile, remember that the phrase implies incompletion, so ensure your context aligns with that meaning. Alternatives like "remaining to complete" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining to complete

Focuses on the remaining aspect of the task, using 'complete' instead of 'finish'.

still needs finishing

Emphasizes the need for the task to be finished, using a gerund form.

yet to be finalized

Highlights the lack of finalization, suitable for more formal contexts.

work in progress

Indicates that the task is currently being worked on and is not yet complete.

unfinished business

Suggests an outstanding matter that requires attention.

outstanding tasks

Focuses on the tasks that have not been completed yet.

incomplete work

Highlights the fact that the work is not yet fully done.

awaiting completion

Emphasizes that completion is expected but has not yet occurred.

outstanding items

Refers to specific items that still need to be addressed or completed.

tasks at hand

Focuses on the tasks that are currently being worked on or need to be addressed.

FAQs

How can I use "left to finish" in a sentence?

You can use "left to finish" to indicate remaining tasks, as in "We have several chapters "remaining to read"".

What's a good alternative to "left to finish"?

Consider using phrases like "remaining to complete", or "yet to be done" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'there is nothing left to finish'?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It means that everything has been completed, and there are no remaining tasks. The opposite would be 'there is still something "left to finish"'.

What does it imply when something is "left to finish"?

It implies that a task or activity is incomplete and requires further attention or effort. It often carries a sense of urgency or responsibility to complete the remaining work.