this was finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been completed or concluded in the past. Example: "After weeks of hard work, I can finally say that this was finished on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Even before this was finished, it was sold".

The New York Times - Tech

Until all this was finished there'd be no further mine expansion.

The Guardian

This was finished in 2012 at a cost of around $20bn and was justified by the government as providing 10% of all China's electricity.

The Guardian

This was finished off with a trip to, and a plunge in, what the guides like to call the Mississippi Mudbath, a mini-swamp in the middle of some woods.

The Guardian - Travel

This was finished in late 2009.

Wikipedia

When this was finished she returned to Portsmouth as a museum ship.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

This is finished.

The New York Times

This is the record, this is finished.

The Guardian - Books

And BP will very likely still pay billions more before this is finished.

The New York Times

"By 2015 when all this is finished we will be a fully integrated multichannel business.

The Guardian - Business

When all of this is finished, Hat Trick will be a small, creatively owned independent again".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this was finished", ensure the context clearly indicates what "this" refers to. Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the subject.

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying too heavily on the passive voice can make your writing sound indirect. Consider rephrasing to use the active voice where appropriate for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was finished" primarily functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action has been completed on a specific subject. The Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across various contexts to denote completion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

27%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was finished" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to denote completion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, primarily in News & Media, Wiki, and Science. While useful, consider whether using the active voice might create a more direct and engaging tone. Related alternatives include "this concluded", "this has been completed", and "this is complete", depending on the desired emphasis and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this has been completed

Uses present perfect passive, emphasizing the recent completion of the action.

this concluded

Replaces the passive construction with a more direct verb indicating termination.

this is complete

Shifts from past passive to present active, implying current state of completion.

this got finalized

Uses a more informal term "got" to indicate a completed action.

the task was done

Emphasizes that a specific task has been accomplished.

this was brought to a close

A more formal way of saying something was finished.

the matter was resolved

Focuses on the resolution of a specific issue or problem.

it wrapped up

An informal way of saying something has finished, often used in project management contexts.

it reached its end

A more metaphorical way of saying something has finished.

the project ended

Focuses on the termination of a project.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this was finished" to sound more active?

You can use active voice constructions like "we finished this", "they completed it", or "the team finalized this". The best choice depends on who performed the action.

What's a more formal alternative to "this was finished"?

More formal alternatives include "this has been completed", "this was brought to a close", or "this concluded".

Is it ever incorrect to use "this was finished"?

While grammatically correct, using the passive voice may obscure who performed the action. If the actor is important, using the active voice is preferable.

What's the difference between "this was finished" and "this is finished"?

"This was finished" refers to a past event, indicating that something has been completed. "This is finished" implies that something is currently in a state of completion.