sudden finish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sudden finish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected or abrupt conclusion to an event or situation. Example: "The game ended with a sudden finish, leaving the audience in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He went out to practice after the sudden finish to his first match.

The New York Times - Sports

For California Angels players Ken Forsch, Doug De Cinces and Tommy John--all John--allajor leaguers--the sudden finish of the season means an abrupt adjustment to what all three refer to as a "more normal life". Ken Forsch has had many years to get used to the October homecomings.

Los Angeles Times

Another sudden finish was recorded in the co-main event: Henry Corrales responded remarkably to a knockdown punch from his younger Whittier neighbor Aaron Pico and answered by slinging a right-handed punch that struck Pico flush on the jaw, knocking him down to set up the stunning ending just 67 seconds into their fight.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Things were going along according to plan, and then, all of sudden, I finish one race and I'm in another one," Mr. Forrester said in an interview at his election headquarters here one recent morning.

The New York Times

The Tour de France had finished a week or so before, but his race had come to a sudden conclusion a couple of weeks earlier.

BBC

Gladbach, emboldened by the visitors' sudden fragility, finished them off with two more counterattacking moves in the space of 14 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Barcelona's troubles appear to stem from a sudden inability to finish scoring chances.

The New York Times - Sports

Van Gerwen takes up the story: "All of a sudden a 129 finish, straight in the middle of the bullseye, and then a nice 11-darter on the end".

The Guardian - Sport

The sudden rush to finish came as the latest twist in a week-long crisis pitting the Brotherhood veteran Morsi and his Islamist supporters against a mostly secular and liberal opposition and the powerful judiciary.

The Guardian

But Ammann said last year's sudden and disappointing finish didn't leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

Los Angeles Times

All of a sudden it was finished and we had won the league, but we expected to do it today.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sudden finish" to create a sense of surprise or shock in your writing, particularly when describing events in sports, competitions, or narratives where a climax is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "sudden finish" excessively in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise and professional terms like "abrupt termination" or "premature conclusion" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sudden finish" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the manner in which an event concludes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sudden finish" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe an abrupt or unexpected ending, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is appropriate for use in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media or science. When writing, leverage it to convey surprise or shock, but avoid overuse in highly formal settings. Alternatives such as "abrupt ending" or "unexpected conclusion" may be more fitting in those cases. Top sources include The New York Times and Los Angeles Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abrupt ending

Focuses on the abruptness of the ending, emphasizing the lack of warning.

unexpected conclusion

Highlights the surprise element of the finish, suggesting it was not anticipated.

sudden stop

Similar to the main query, but uses "stop" instead of "finish".

premature termination

Implies that the finish occurred before the natural or intended end point.

unforeseen end

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the finish.

quick cessation

Emphasizes the speed at which the finishing occurred, focusing on the immediate stop.

instant halt

Stresses the immediacy and abruptness of the stopping point.

immediate termination

Highlights the immediacy and finality of the end.

snap conclusion

Similar to abrupt ending, focusing on the speed and unexpected nature.

unexpected halt

Similar to "unexpected conclusion", but uses "halt" to denote a sudden stop.

FAQs

What does "sudden finish" mean?

A "sudden finish" refers to an abrupt or unexpected conclusion to an event, game, or situation. It suggests that the ending happened quickly and without much warning.

What can I say instead of "sudden finish"?

You can use alternatives like "abrupt ending", "unexpected conclusion", or "premature termination" depending on the context.

How can I use "sudden finish" in a sentence?

You can say, "The race ended with a "sudden finish" when the lead runner tripped" or "The negotiations came to a "sudden finish" after the disagreement".

Is "sudden finish" formal or informal?

"Sudden finish" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both informal and formal contexts, although more formal options like "abrupt termination" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.