was not finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not finished" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has not been completed or is still in progress. Example: "The project was not finished by the deadline, so we need to request an extension."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Alderson was not finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Dickinson was not finished.

The New Yorker

But Tannenbaum was not finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Hynes was not finished.

The New York Times

But Wang was not finished.

The New Yorker

Drogba, though, was not finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Moss was not finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Malkin was not finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Ashcroft, however, was not finished.

The Guardian - Business

Ghosh was not finished, however.

The Guardian

He was not finished yet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not finished", ensure the context clearly indicates what "was not finished". This avoids ambiguity and ensures your meaning is clear to the reader.

Common error

Avoid overusing "was not finished" in passive constructions, which can weaken your writing. Consider using active voice where appropriate to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The report was not finished by the team", try "The team did not finish the report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not finished" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating that an action or task remained incomplete at a certain point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Science

8%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not finished" serves as a clear indicator that something remained incomplete at a given point. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, deeming it suitable for numerous contexts. This phrase, widely found in news and sports reporting, conveys a sense of incompletion rather than a finished state. When using "was not finished", it's best to be specific about what exactly "was not finished" to avoid any ambiguity. Alternatives like "remained incomplete" or "was still ongoing" offer similar meanings but can shift the emphasis. Though common, writers should be mindful of overuse and passive voice constructions. Overall, "was not finished" is a versatile and understandable way to communicate that something is lacking completion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained incomplete

Focuses on the state of being unfinished rather than the action of not finishing.

was still ongoing

Emphasizes the continuation of something rather than the lack of completion.

had not concluded

Highlights the absence of a final decision or resolution.

was yet to be completed

Stresses the future aspect of the completion.

was still in progress

Highlights that something is currently being worked on.

had not been finalized

Suggests that the details or arrangements were not yet settled.

was left undone

Implies a sense of obligation or expectation that was not met.

was not brought to a close

More formal and emphasizes the act of formally ending something.

was not resolved

Focuses on the lack of a solution to a problem or issue.

extended further

Implies a continuation beyond an expected or intended point.

FAQs

How can I use "was not finished" in a sentence?

Use "was not finished" to indicate that an action, task, or process hadn't reached its conclusion. For example, "The project "was not finished" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "was not finished"?

You can use alternatives like "remained incomplete", "was still ongoing", or "had not concluded" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "was not finished" or "was unfinished"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""was not finished"" typically emphasizes the action of not completing something, while "was unfinished" describes the state of being incomplete. The better choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "was not finished" and "wasn't finished"?

"Was not finished" is the formal way to say it, while "wasn't finished" is a contraction, suitable for informal contexts. Both have the same meaning, but ""was not finished"" is preferred in formal writing.