previously finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that has been completed at an earlier time. Example: "The project was previously finished before the deadline, allowing us to focus on other tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Van Gaal took over at the start of last season when United had previously finished seventh.

The Guardian - Sport

The three-year-old had previously finished fourth behind Caspar Netscher in the German equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas.

The Guardian - Sport

Drivetime is expanded by an hour, from 4pm until 8pm - it previously finished at 7pm - with Ben Jones hosting weeknight evenings from 8pm until midnight.

The Guardian

It's just that I have been writing professionally for almost two decades and have written almost eight books in that time, but have never previously finished a notebook.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now she is out of the Olympics in the metric mile, having previously finished 10th at the Atlanta Games and having failed to make the final in 1992 and 1988.

The New York Times - Sports

Five previous top-10 finishes helped with that, but this former Scottish Boys champion, a nephew of the former Ryder Cup captain Bernard, had never previously finished higher than 50th in a season-ending order of merit.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Benfica, like Chelsea, have made the final after previously finishing third in their Champions League group and entering at the last-32 stage.

BBC

The 27-year-old Zettel, the 2009 super-combined world champion, won her first Olympic medal after previously finishing fourth twice.

BBC

Re "For Mets and Santana, Wait for No-Hitter Is Over," June 2: In 1969, the Mets, a team that had previously never finished better than next to last in the National League, were 29-23 anter an 11-game winning streak.

The New York Times - Sports

Amino acid sequences of the remaining ORFs were screened against the nucleotide sequences of the six previously available finished Listeria genomes using TBLASTN with an identity threshold of 65%, and those without any hits were identified.

BMC Genomics

It's the first Blur song where it's been one take, because previously I never finished the lyrics before we recorded.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "previously finished", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe being referenced. For example, specify when something was "previously finished" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using additional adverbs that unnecessarily repeat the idea of "previously". For example, instead of saying "already previously finished", stick to just "previously finished" or "already finished" to maintain conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously finished" acts as an adverbial modifier followed by a past participle, describing an action that was completed before the current point of reference. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previously finished" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction that combines an adverb with a past participle, clearly indicating that an action or task was completed at an earlier point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and versatility across different contexts. While the register is generally neutral, the specific wording in your sentences can shift its formality. Usage is most prevalent in News & Media and Science contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider "already completed" or "previously completed" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

already completed

Focuses on the completion aspect with emphasis on the task being done by now.

previously completed

Replaces "finished" with its synonym, maintaining the original meaning.

formerly concluded

Uses more formal synonyms for both "previously" and "finished", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

earlier finalized

Emphasizes the act of making something final at a prior point in time.

in the past completed

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate completion in a prior timeframe.

previously done

Replaces "finished" with a simpler synonym.

prior to finishing

Shifts the focus to the period before the completion.

previously addressed

Implies that a task was taken care of earlier.

at an earlier stage accomplished

Uses a more verbose structure to convey the same information.

in former times achieved

Expresses a similar concept using more archaic language.

FAQs

How can I use "previously finished" in a sentence?

You can use "previously finished" to describe tasks, projects, or activities that were completed at an earlier time. For instance, "The report built upon data from "previously finished" studies".

What are some alternatives to "previously finished"?

Some alternatives include "already completed", "previously completed", or "formerly concluded". The best option depends on the desired level of formality and context.

Is there a difference between "previously finished" and "already finished"?

"Previously finished" emphasizes that the action occurred at an earlier point in time relative to the current context. "Already finished" simply confirms that something is completed. In most cases, they are interchangeable but "previously finished" explicitly points to a past timeframe.

Can I use "previously finished" in formal writing?

Yes, "previously finished" is suitable for formal writing. However, depending on the specific context, a more sophisticated alternative like "formerly concluded" might be more appropriate. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.