Finnished vs. Finished: Which is Correct?

• "Finnished" is the incorrect version of "finished."
• "Finished" is an adjective or past participle of the verb "finish." It denotes that something has reached the end or completion of a process, task, or activity, and is now in a state of conclusion.

Finish (verb):

To bring to an end, complete:

• "She finished writing her essay before the deadline."

To consume or use up completely:

• "The children finished all their cookies before dinner."

To reach a certain point or rank:

• "The runner finished second in the race."

To put a coating or surface on something:

• "The carpenter finished the table with a layer of varnish."

To kill someone:

Finish (adj.)

"Finish" is not commonly used as an adjective. However, in certain contexts, it might be informally used to describe something that is complete or fully developed.

For example:

• "The project is in its finish stage, awaiting final approval."
• "After hours of work, the painting was in its finish state, with vibrant colors and intricate details."

Finished (verb)

As a verb, "finished" is the past participle of the verb "finish." It indicates that an action or process has been completed, and the subject is now in a state of conclusion or fulfillment. For example: "She finished her work and left the office for the day."

Finished (adj.)

Brought to an end, completed:

• "The finished product was exactly what she envisioned."

Consumed or used up completely:

• "There's no more wine left, the bottle is finished."

Ready, prepared:

• "The meal is finished, please come to the table."

Having a polished or refined appearance:

• "He wore a finished tweed suit to the event."

Examining the graph below, we can see that the correct spelling "finished" is used to a greater degree than "finnished." "Finished" dipped in use around the 1980s to 2000s.

How do we pronounce finished?

In American English, "finished" is pronounced fi·nuhsht.

In British English, "finished" is pronounced fi·nehsht.

Why does the misspelling of finished as finnished occur?

The misspelling of "finished" as "finnished" likely occurs due to a common pattern in English spelling, where a single consonant preceded by a single vowel at the end of a word is sometimes doubled when adding a suffix. This pattern is known as the "doubling rule."

In the case of "finished," when adding the suffix "-ed" to indicate the past tense, some people might mistakenly double the middle consonant "n," resulting in "finnished." This could be a result of generalization or confusion with other words that do follow the doubling rule, such as "planned" or "hopped."

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Other common misspellings of finished

Here are other common misspellings of "finished":

1. Finishd
2. Finnish
3. Finshed
4. Finsihed
5. Finnshied

Example sentences for the misuse of the word finished as finnished

1. The sign on the shop proudly announced their renovation was "finnished," but keen observers couldn't help but notice the misspelling, which should have been "finished."
2. Despite the author's expertise, the book cover mistakenly claimed the series was "finnished," prompting readers to kindly point out the error and recommend the correct term, "finished."
3. The construction company's brochure assured clients that their projects were always "finnished" on time, prompting a review that highlighted the need for proper spelling— "finished."
4. A proud homeowner displayed a sign in the yard proclaiming the landscaping work was "finnished," inadvertently drawing attention to the misspelling instead of the completed project, which should be labeled "finished."
5. The email notification proudly declared the software update was successfully "finnished," raising eyebrows among users who kindly reminded the sender of the correct spelling, "finished."

Example sentences of finished

1. After weeks of hard work, she proudly presented the finished painting to the art gallery.
2. The students were relieved to submit their finished projects just before the deadline.
3. The chef carefully plated the finished dish, adding the final touches of garnish.
4. As the sun set, the construction crew admired their finished work on the new bridge.
5. With a sense of accomplishment, he placed the last piece of the puzzle, revealing the finished picture.

Synonyms for finished

1. Completed
2. Concluded
3. Accomplished
4. Finalized
5. Ended
6. Done
7. Polished
8. Executed
9. Wrapped up
10. Terminated

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References:

Definition of FINISHED

entirely done : brought to a completed state; provided with a finish : having a final treatment or coating on the surface; marked by the highest quality : consummate… See the full definition

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