make sure you finish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make sure you finish" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the importance of completing a task or assignment. Example: "Before you leave for the day, make sure you finish the report so we can review it together tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

LARISSA MACFARQUHAR: And make sure you finish those unread issues before the end of the year or you will have failed as a person.

The New Yorker

But you need to make sure you finish as well as you started.

Forbes

If and when you are completing applications in your career search, make sure you finish them.

Forbes

"When you are on top and you've got them down, you have to make sure you finish them.

BBC

"My key goal is to say that if you're admitted, you can do this, and we'll do everything we can to make sure you finish," Salleh said.

Duke University

If you find you don't have enough time to finish, take the last minute in each subsection and take guesses to make sure you finish each subsection.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Email some ideas of what you need (a shoulder to cry on, someone to make sure you finished your homework, etc). to your closest friends.

HuffPost

if you are on a deadline, make sure you can finish your video a few days before the deadline so that you can have it previewed by friends/family, you can edit it if anything comes up, and/or so you can recreate it if your disk or video is damaged or lost, or if it becomes inaccurate.

WikiHow

If you want to be safe, make sure you have finished EV training it until you finish leveling it to lvl 100 (normally, since a lot of battling is required to reach lvl 100 without Rare Candy'ing it, these will fill completely up by themselves).

WikiHow

Please make sure you are finished with your exam before you electronically submit it.

Harvard University

Make sure you have finished the game.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make sure you finish" in instructions, follow it with specific steps or deadlines to clarify expectations. This minimizes ambiguity and enhances the likelihood of successful completion.

Common error

Avoid using "make sure you finish" without providing sufficient context or resources. Simply telling someone to finish a task without offering support or clear guidelines can lead to misunderstandings and incomplete work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make sure you finish" functions as an imperative, urging someone to complete a task. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form in written English. It directs action and emphasizes the importance of the task's completion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

48%

News & Media

24%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make sure you finish" is a grammatically correct and usable imperative phrase that conveys the importance of completing a task. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's best used in informal to neutral contexts, particularly in instructions and everyday communication. To maximize clarity, follow this phrase with specific steps or deadlines. The phrase is most commonly found in WikiHow, News & Media, and Academia sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensure completion

Focuses on the act of completing something without explicitly mentioning who should do it.

make certain you complete

Similar to "be certain to complete" but slightly less formal.

be certain to complete

Adds a level of formality and emphasizes the certainty of completion.

guarantee you complete

Emphasizes the assurance of completion.

assure you end

Focuses on giving confidence about completing the task.

see to it that you end

More forceful and direct, implying active supervision.

don't fail to complete

Highlights the negative consequence of not finishing.

verify you are done

Focuses on confirming the finished state, rather than the act of finishing.

finalize your work

Highlights the final steps of a task to ensure it's completely ready.

conclude without fail

Emphasizes the importance of concluding the activity regardless of difficulties.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "make sure you finish" to sound more formal?

In a formal context, you could use phrases like "ensure completion", "be certain to complete", or "guarantee you complete" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "make sure you finish" imply?

It typically implies a degree of importance or necessity regarding the completion of a task. It can also suggest that there might be obstacles or a temptation to leave the task unfinished, requiring extra diligence.

When is it appropriate to use "make sure you finish"?

It's appropriate when you need to emphasize the importance of completing a task, especially when there's a risk of it being left undone or when specific instructions need to be followed closely.

Is "make sure you finished" grammatically correct?

While "make sure you finish" uses the base form of the verb and is a command or instruction, "make sure you finished" is grammatically incorrect. A correct phrasing in the past tense to verify completion would be "make sure you have finished".