reaching the finals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reaching the finals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a competition or tournament where teams or individuals advance to the final round or match. Example: "After a long and challenging season, the team is excited about reaching the finals of the championship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wales start to dream of reaching the finals.

The Guardian - Sport

We hope that we will prove to the world that we deserve reaching the finals".

The New York Times - Sports

Intrigued, Foer tried his hand at competing himself, unexpectedly reaching the finals.

The New York Times - Books

Yet she arrived here with momentum after reaching the finals in two summer hardcourt tournaments.

The New York Times - Sports

Reaching the finals in Asia Cup after such a long time is very important.

The New York Times - Sports

FLYERS So mediocre in the regular season, so good in reaching the finals.

The New York Times - Sports

And Kerber comes into the Open playing well, reaching the finals in Cincinnati earlier this month.

The New York Times

Sun Coach Mike Thibault said reaching the finals this year was more difficult.

The New York Times

While this is a testament to James's greatness, it may keep Cleveland from reaching the finals.

The New York Times

Wales will have high hopes of reaching the finals for the first time since 1958.

The Guardian - Sport

Only a hard-fought loss to Italy kept Bulgaria from reaching the finals.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reaching the finals" to describe the accomplishment of advancing to the final stage of a competition, emphasizing the effort and progress made.

Common error

Avoid using "reaching the finals" in situations that don't involve a structured competition or tournament. Instead, choose more appropriate phrases like "achieving the goal" or "completing the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reaching the finals" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the action of successfully progressing to the final stage of a competition or tournament. As Ludwig AI indicates, it follows standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reaching the finals" is a commonly used and grammatically correct gerund phrase that signifies the accomplishment of advancing to the final stage of a competition. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase adheres to standard grammatical rules. It is frequently found in news and media, encyclopedias, and academic sources. The phrase’s primary function is to convey achievement and success in a competitive context. While the register is typically neutral, its formality can vary. Alternatives include "qualifying for the finals", "advancing to the finals", and "making it to the finals". A key writing tip is to avoid using it in non-competitive contexts. Overall, it’s a versatile phrase for conveying success in competitive endeavors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

qualifying for the finals

Focuses on the act of meeting the criteria to participate in the final stage.

advancing to the finals

Emphasizes the progression from earlier stages to the final stage.

making it to the finals

A more informal way of saying that someone has successfully reached the finals.

getting to the finals

Similar to "making it to the finals" but slightly more literal.

contesting the final

Highlights the act of competing in the final match or round.

securing a spot in the finals

Focuses on the accomplishment of guaranteeing participation in the final stage.

finalist

Implies that a team or participant has reached the final stage of a competition.

in the final

A shortened way of indicating participation in the final stage.

competing in the final round

Highlights the act of competing in the conclusive stage of an event.

gaining entry to the final

Focuses on the action of gaining acceptance into the finals stage.

FAQs

How can I use "reaching the finals" in a sentence?

You can use "reaching the finals" to describe a team or individual's accomplishment in making it to the final stage of a competition. For example, "After a grueling season, the team celebrated "reaching the finals"."

What can I say instead of "reaching the finals"?

You can use alternatives like "qualifying for the finals", "advancing to the finals", or "making it to the finals" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "reaching to the finals" instead of "reaching the finals"?

No, the correct phrase is "reaching the finals". The preposition "to" is not needed and would be grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "reaching the finals" and "winning the finals"?

"Reaching the finals" means successfully advancing to the final stage of a competition, while "winning the finals" means winning the final competition itself.