How to use "finally"

What Does "finally" Mean?

• Grammatical function: "Finally" is an adverb that functions as a connective or transition word. It primarily expresses sequence (the last item in a list) or consequence following a long delay or struggle.
• Typical sentence position: It is highly versatile, appearing in initial position (as a sentence starter), medial position (before the main verb), or occasionally final position (for emphasis).
• Register: It is generally neutral, making it suitable for academic writing, journalism, and casual conversation.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: When used to list points, it is often followed by a comma at the beginning of a sentence. When used to indicate a result after a delay, it usually sits between the subject and the main verb (e.g., "they finally arrived") or after the first auxiliary verb (e.g., "they have finally arrived").
• Punctuation rules: Use a comma after "finally" when it introduces the last point in a sequence at the start of a sentence. No comma is needed when it is used mid-clause as an adverb of time.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence to signal a concluding thought or be embedded within a verb phrase. It cannot be easily negated directly (one does not say "not finally"), but the action it modifies can be.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Placing "finally" between a verb and its direct object (e.g., "He finished finally the book") sounds awkward; it should be "He finally finished the book."

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from finally on Ludwig.guru.

"Just a 10-minute stroll from the Short Strand, hundreds of people looked on as two rival factions jeered and snarled at one another before the final confrontation, when hand-to-hand fighting finally broke out." — theguardian.com

"This ruling will save lives by forcing the government to finally take this issue seriously." — theguardian.com

"Senna finally joined Williams himself for the 1994 campaign, with Prost deciding to retire as he refused to be his team-mate again." — theguardian.com

"After months of wrangling, the broadcasters finally agreed seven leaders would be allowed to take part, allowing David Cameron to dodge a head-to-head with Ed Miliband." — theguardian.com

"Finally, I don't understand the difference between caring about civil liberties and caring for them." — theguardian.com

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/finally

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
eventually	Neutral; suggests a result after an unspecified period or series of events.
ultimately	More formal; emphasizes the fundamental or most important result at the end of a process.
at last	Emotive; specifically used to express relief or impatience regarding a long-awaited event.
in conclusion	Formal; used strictly in academic or professional writing to signal the end of a text.
lastly	Sequential; used when enumerating points in a list (first, second, lastly).

Common Mistakes

• Wrong position: Placing the word at the very end of a long sentence can sometimes weaken the impact; it is usually more effective before the verb.
• Confusion with 'at last': Learners often confuse it with 'at last', using 'finally' to express relief about a delayed event when 'at last' would be more pragmatically appropriate for conveying strong emotion.
• Redundancy: Using "finally" alongside other concluding markers like "in the end at last" is repetitive and should be avoided.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
finally	Sequence/Result	Neutral	Initial or Medial

FAQs

Where can finally be placed in a sentence

The word finally can appear in the initial position to introduce a final point or the medial position between the subject and the main verb. While it occasionally appears in the final position, this is less common and usually serves to emphasize the length of the wait.

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What is the difference between finally and at last

While both words indicate a result after a delay, at last carries a strong pragmatic tone of relief or impatience. In contrast, finally is more objective and is used to describe the chronological end of a sequence or process without necessarily implying emotion.

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Is it correct to use finally to express relief

Learners often confuse it with 'at last', using 'finally' to express relief about a delayed event when 'at last' would be more pragmatically appropriate. For example, while "he finally arrived" is factually correct, saying "at last, he arrived!" better communicates the speaker's subjective feeling of satisfaction after waiting.