when he is done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when he is done" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the completion of a task or action by a male subject. Example: "We can start the meeting when he is done with his presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

When he is done, he must be able to play each song by himself.

The New Yorker

"I've long thought Shakespeare works best when he is done in modern dress," Sir Ian said.

Independent

When he is done, he asks Mario how he liked it.

The New York Times

Only when he is done do the employees resume their mayhem.

The New York Times

Dwight said he would like to become a track coach when he is done with football.

The New York Times - Sports

He has been inspired by this to try, when he is done next year, to get public-interest law work.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

He tells no one when he is doing it.

The New York Times - Arts

When he is doing something genuinely radical, he prefers to pretend that he is not.

The Economist

"They are on the car and the van as well for when he is doing deliveries".

BBC

Reward him when he is doing what you want.

WikiHow

When he was done, he smiled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when he is done" to clearly indicate a sequence of events where an action performed by a male subject is completed before the next event occurs. For example: "When he is done with the report, he will present it to the team."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "when he is done" implies absolute completion if the context suggests otherwise. For example, "When he is done with the initial draft, he will need to revise it." Here, 'done' refers only to the first draft, not the entire process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he is done" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when an action or event occurs in relation to the completion of an action by a male subject. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when he is done" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial clause indicating that something will happen after a male subject completes an action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its register is generally neutral, appearing frequently in news and media, and its purpose is to establish a temporal relationship. While alternatives like "once he's finished" or "after he completes it" exist, "when he is done" remains a clear and effective choice for expressing sequence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once he's finished

Replaces "is done" with "has finished", implying a completed action.

after he completes it

Specifies that 'it' is completed, adding clarity.

when he finishes up

Adds a slightly more informal tone with "finishes up".

after he is through

Uses the idiom "is through" to indicate completion.

when he has concluded

Uses 'has concluded' for a more formal tone.

upon his completion

More formal, using a noun phrase instead of a verb phrase.

once he concludes

Replaces 'finishes' with 'concludes', which suggests formality.

when his task is over

Shifts the focus to the task being completed rather than the person.

subsequent to his finishing

Highly formal and emphasizes the sequence of events.

following his accomplishment

Focuses on the achievement aspect of completing something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "when he is done" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "upon his completion", "subsequent to his finishing", or "once he concludes".

What's a more casual way to say "when he is done"?

Informal alternatives include "when he finishes up" or "after he is through".

Is there a difference between "when he is done" and "after he is done"?

While similar, "when he is done" emphasizes the moment of completion as a trigger, while "after he is done" simply indicates a subsequent event. The practical difference is minimal.

Can I use "when she is done" instead of "when he is done"?

Yes, simply replace "he" with "she" to refer to a female subject. The phrase structure remains the same: "when she is done".