means to finish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "means to finish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the intention or purpose of completing a task or action. Example: "In this context, the term 'closure' means to finish the project by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But we'll never understand what it means to finish that tail knowing there won't be another one until next year.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's spoken, after all, by Vandamm, the villain played by James Mason, who is describing how he means to finish off the Eva Marie Saint character.

The New York Times

It's the drunk-on-blood crocodile that shadows Captain Hook throughout Neverland; not content with having eaten his hand, this croc means to finish its meal.

The New Yorker

The developers were able to assemble large tracks of land and secure financial means to finish big components of a megaproject.

International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment

NextStage's experience will give us all the means to finish the development and reach profitability in the short term," says Konbini's founders Lucie Beudet and David Creuzot.

TechCrunch

It can be seen that this solution never asks more questions than required in this case, and hence, minimises cost, but at the same time, would provide a means to finish in fewer rounds than solution (1).

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"I meant to finish my check," Ruutu said.

The New York Times

"Ajax was meant to finish last, and we were predicted to come third".

The New York Times - Sports

Work was meant to finish in late 2016 but it is now scheduled for completion in spring 2017.

The Guardian - Business

WITH just 60 days to go before the Convention on the Future of Europe is meant to finish its draft constitution for the European Union, consensus should be emerging.

The Economist

She had meant to finish the sentence by saying what action always is or does, but the bluntness of her elliptical utterance seemed to satisfy her.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "means to finish", ensure that the context clearly establishes the intention or purpose. For instance, "having the resources means to finish the project successfully" clarifies the relationship between resources and completion.

Common error

Avoid using "means to finish" when a passive construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The project means to finish by Friday", use "The project is meant to be finished by Friday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "means to finish" primarily functions as a purpose connector, indicating that something serves as a means or method to achieve completion. This aligns with Ludwig AI, which identifies its role in expressing intention or resource availability for finishing a task.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "means to finish" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate how something enables the completion of a task. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness, noting its function as a purpose connector. While not overly common, the phrase appears in various contexts, primarily within news, scientific, and formal business settings. When writing, ensure the context accurately reflects the intended relationship between the means and the completion, and avoid misusing it in passive constructions. For alternatives, consider "intends to complete" or "aims to finalize" for more formal tones. The phrase "means to finish" suggests that something will definitely come to a conclusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intends to complete

Emphasizes the intention of completing something.

plans to conclude

Focuses on the planning aspect of finishing.

aims to finalize

Highlights the goal of bringing something to a final state.

is set to accomplish

Implies a scheduled or predetermined completion.

has the objective of completing

Formally states the objective of finishing.

seeks to wrap up

Suggests an effort to finish something efficiently.

endeavors to bring to a close

Formally indicates an attempt to finish.

aspires to put the finishing touches on

Emphasizes the final details needed for completion.

is committed to ending

Highlights dedication to finishing, often implying a cessation.

undertakes to complete

Suggests a formal agreement or responsibility to finish.

FAQs

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

You can use "means to finish" to indicate the intention or resources required to complete a task. For example, "Securing funding "means to finish" the construction project on time."

What is a more formal way to say "means to finish"?

A more formal alternative would be "intends to complete" or "aims to finalize". These phrases add a level of professionalism suitable for business or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "meant to finish" instead of "means to finish"?

While similar, "meant to finish" implies a plan or expectation, whereas "means to finish" indicates a resource or method for completion. For example, "The budget is "meant to finish" the project" indicates a plan, but "The funding "means to finish" the project" shows the funding enables completion.

What's the difference between "means to finish" and "allows to finish"?

"Means to finish" implies that something is both necessary and sufficient for completion, while "allows to finish" suggests it removes an obstacle but may not guarantee completion. The phrase "means to finish" indicates something enabling the project's conclusion, but it depends on the context for it to make sense.