strive to finish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to finish" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a determination or effort to complete a task or goal. Example: "Despite the challenges, I will strive to finish the project by the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I love participating in long races such as the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters because the training I have undergone allows me to be disciplined and always strive to finish the race.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

According to those close to her, Beryl Bainbridge was striving to finish her last novel shortly before she died last July.

The Guardian - Books

While Mick strives to finish his latest screenplay, Fred fends off invitations from the Queen to perform a piece for Prince Philip's birthday, and undergoes a programme of treatments to "get back in shape".

Independent

In his last years he strove to finish The Tales of Hoffmann, but died before the premiere of the opera, which has entered the standard repertory in versions completed or edited by other musicians.

Wikipedia

Lincoln called on Northerners and Southerners to "strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds," while Obama sang "Amazing Grace" to remind Americans that that "out of this terrible tragedy, God has visited grace upon us, for He has allowed us to see where we've been blind….

The New Yorker

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in," begins its peroration, in the rhythmic, haunting succintness that marked Lincoln as an orator.

Independent

It was not quite plagiarism on the scale of future first lady Melania Trump at the Republican national convention, where she copied large parts of a Michelle Obama speech, but it did bear an uncanny resemblance to Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address: "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds".

The Guardian

In his own words "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds... ...... (From his second inaugural address) "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery [to be allowed to continue], I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally".

Independent

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations".

Independent

"As he acknowledged today, Obama must strive on to finish the work we are in, to do all which may achieve freedom from the tyranny of fossil fuels.

Huffington Post

Strive always to "finish the work we are in," bind up wounds, care for widows and orphans, and "do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strive to finish" to convey a sense of dedicated effort and determination, especially when facing challenges or obstacles.

Common error

While "strive" is appropriate in formal or professional settings, avoid overusing it in casual conversation, where simpler alternatives like "try" or "aim" may sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to finish" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It combines the verb 'strive,' indicating a determined effort, with 'to finish,' which specifies the goal or action being pursued. The Ludwig examples illustrate its use in conveying a strong intention to complete something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "strive to finish" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express a dedicated effort toward completing a goal. As Ludwig confirms, its usage is valid in written English. While relatively rare, it is most commonly found in news, business and media contexts. When aiming for formal contexts, consider synonyms like "endeavor to complete" or "aim to accomplish". When overused in informal conversation, replace with easier alternatives such as "try to finalize". Therefore, "strive to finish" indicates a commitment to completion, best suited for scenarios where emphasizing dedication is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to complete

Emphasizes a serious or determined effort to complete, highlighting commitment.

aim to accomplish

Focuses on setting a specific goal to accomplish, suggesting intent and direction.

work towards completion

Highlights the continuous effort and progress being made towards finalizing something.

try to finalize

Suggests an attempt to bring something to its final form, emphasizing the concluding action.

push to conclude

Indicates an active effort to bring something to a close, suggesting momentum and urgency.

seek to achieve

Emphasizes the pursuit of a specific outcome or goal, suggesting ambition and determination.

make an effort to end

Focuses on the deliberate attempt to bring something to a conclusion, emphasizing control and intention.

attempt to wrap up

Indicates an effort to finalize and conclude a project or task, suggesting closure and tidiness.

struggle to conclude

Highlights the difficulty and effort involved in bringing something to an end.

focus on finalizing

Emphasizes directing attention and energy towards completing something, suggesting concentration and resolve.

FAQs

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

You can use "strive to finish" to express a strong effort to complete a task, as in "Despite the setbacks, we must strive to finish the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "strive to finish"?

Alternatives include "aim to accomplish", "endeavor to complete", or "try to finalize", depending on the context.

Is "strive to finish" formal or informal?

"Strive to finish" leans towards the formal side, suggesting a dedicated and earnest effort. Simpler phrases are more appropriate for casual use.

What's the difference between "strive to finish" and "try to finish"?

"Strive to finish" implies a more significant and determined effort compared to "try to finish", which simply suggests an attempt.