when school finishes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when school finishes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the time or moment at which school ends for the day or for a term. Example: "I usually go to the park when school finishes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"You could come up for a week in June, when school finishes".

The New Yorker

This may be a reflection of when school finishes, whereby NHS Direct was able to support 50% of all children through the provision of self-care support and health information.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Her boyfriend was extremely late, Chapman testified, and she was still there when school finished.

The Guardian

It was easier for Bill if Finn didn't go to school, she thought; that way he didn't have to walk with the child to the bus stop, and then ride the bus with him into town, didn't have to make his way back, only to repeat the journey when school finished in the afternoon.

The New Yorker

When school was finished, I went back home, an Ivy League graduate with four years' worth of dirty laundry and his whole life ahead of him.

The New Yorker

"And yes, it can be difficult to encourage kids to turn up when school has finished to do even more work, but not impossible.

Independent

When school was finished, I had an entry interview at the University of Warwick, and managed to talk myself into a place – just about.

The Guardian

When middle school finished, Tucker asked if I wanted to continue into high school, and I said yes.

Vice

When high school finished he moved to Los Angeles and into a house full of YouTubers and gamers, where he would live-stream his sessions on Minecraft.

Vice

"During school days, when I finish school, I come straight to the center".

Unicef

Helen intends going on stage when finishing school.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when school finishes" to clearly indicate a time-based event that occurs at the end of the school day or term. It is suitable for both casual and formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "when school finishes" when you actually mean "after graduation". The former refers to daily or term-end events, while the latter marks the completion of an entire educational program.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when school finishes" functions as an adverbial clause of time, indicating the point at which an action or event occurs. Ludwig AI indicates the expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

27%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when school finishes" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that acts as an adverbial clause of time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to business and general conversation. While alternatives exist to add formality or specificity, this phrase remains a clear and concise way to indicate the time at which school ends, whether daily or at the end of a term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when classes end

Replaces "school" with the more specific "classes", focusing on the end of instruction periods.

at the end of the school day

Emphasizes the completion of the entire school day rather than just the finishing time.

after school is out

Uses a more informal and direct way to indicate the end of school.

after the school day concludes

A more formal way of saying school has ended for the day.

when the final bell rings

Uses figurative language to refer to the end of the school day.

once school lets out

An idiomatic way of saying school is dismissed.

upon school's dismissal

Formal and emphasizes the act of school being dismissed.

as soon as school is over

Highlights the immediacy following the end of school.

at school closing time

Specifically refers to the time when school officially closes.

following the completion of school

A formal way to say after school has finished.

FAQs

What's a simple way to rephrase "when school finishes"?

You can use simpler alternatives such as "when school ends" or "after school" depending on the context.

How does "when school finishes" differ from "when school is over"?

While similar, "when school is over" emphasizes the state of completion, whereas "when school finishes" focuses on the action of finishing. They're often interchangeable, but the nuance can matter in specific contexts.

Is it correct to say "when school finish" instead of "when school finishes"?

No, "when school finish" is grammatically incorrect. The verb should agree with the singular noun "school", hence it should be "when school finishes".

Can I use "when school finishes" in formal writing?

Yes, "when school finishes" is acceptable in formal writing, but more formal alternatives like "upon completion of school" might be preferred in certain academic or professional contexts.