must end with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must end with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying a requirement or condition that something should conclude with a particular element or character. Example: "The password must end with a special character for added security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

In her speech today, Mrs. Whitman sounded a note of caution about the tobacco money, which is certain to come under pressure from lawmakers during the budget negotiation process, which by law and tradition must end with passage of an appropriations law before the end of June.

The New York Times

I must end with the deed.

The New York Times

I must end with bad news on the frugal front.

The New York Times

(Its position only recently evolved; now America believes negotiations must end with Mr. Assad's departure).

The New York Times

Doctors act as if every office visit must end with a prescription.

The New York Times

And Vanderbilt deserves credit for penning a stirring, cathartic keynote speech which must end with the phrase: "Microsoft Word".

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

He says this destructive force in black life must end, along with any reliance on affirmative action, before blacks reach true equality.

The New York Times - Books

Britain will have less than 18 months to negotiate Brexit and must end up with a worse deal than it currently has as an EU member, the bloc's chief negotiator has said.

The Guardian

Since there are 9 columns, we must end up with an odd number of the table's entries coloured white.

SEP

–the views of most other Lebanese parties that they must end confrontation with Israel, shield the country from regional tensions and concentrate on economic construction, especially domestically.

Forbes

As children, we are all raised to understand that we must end up with the right partner, and must go to a nice family as a daughter-in-law.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be aware of the formality level needed for your audience. While appropriate in many contexts, "must end with" may be too direct for certain audiences. Consider using a more nuanced suggestion in those scenarios.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "must end with" in close proximity within your writing, as this can make the text sound repetitive and monotonous. Try varying your sentence structure and vocabulary by using synonyms or rephrasing your ideas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must end with" functions as a modal verb phrase that indicates a requirement or condition for the conclusion of something. Ludwig AI's analysis, based on numerous examples, shows this phrase is used to express rules, instructions, or specifications.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

24%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "must end with" is a common and grammatically correct modal verb phrase used to express a requirement or condition for the conclusion of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's found in diverse contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and wikis, with a neutral register suitable for conveying instructions or specifications. While it's appropriate for many situations, remember to consider the formality level of your audience and avoid overuse. Alternatives like "should conclude with" or "needs to finish with" can offer a softer tone when needed. Ensuring clarity and precision when specifying what the subject should conclude with is essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must terminate in

Replaces "with" with "in" without changing the core meaning of the requirement.

should conclude with

Changes the modal verb from "must" to "should", making the requirement less strict.

needs to finish with

Replaces "must end" with "needs to finish", offering a more casual tone.

has to terminate with

Substitutes "must end" with "has to terminate", providing a more formal alternative.

is required to end with

Emphasizes the necessity of ending with something specific in a formal way.

is obliged to conclude with

Uses "is obliged" to convey a sense of duty or obligation.

is bound to end with

Expresses a high probability or certainty of ending with a particular element.

necessarily ends with

Uses "necessarily" to highlight the unavoidable nature of the ending.

invariably finishes with

Emphasizes the consistency and regularity of the ending.

is destined to close with

Suggests a preordained or inevitable conclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "must end with" in a sentence?

The phrase "must end with" indicates a requirement for something to conclude in a specific way. For example, "All file names "must end with .txt" for the system to recognize them properly."

What's a less forceful way to say "must end with"?

If you want to soften the tone, alternatives like "should conclude with" or "needs to finish with" can be used. For instance, instead of "The instructions "must end with a period"", you could say "The instructions should conclude with a period."

Is it always appropriate to use "must end with" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "must end with" might be too direct for some formal contexts. Consider if a more nuanced phrase like "is required to conclude with" would be more suitable, depending on your audience and the overall tone of the document.

What are common errors when using "must end with"?

One common error is not clearly specifying what the subject must end with. For instance, saying "The report "must end with something"" is vague. Be precise: "The report must end with a conclusion summarizing the key findings."