Distinguishing Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end

Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end are often confused in terms of meaning and usage. In this article, PREP will explain in detail the meanings and uses of Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end in English. Follow the article below!

I. What is Finally?

Before differentiating Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end, let’s explore the concept and position of Finally in a sentence!

1. Definition

Finally is pronounced /ˈfaɪ.nəl.i/ and functions as an adverb, meaning: finally (after a long period of difficulty); at last (when placed at the beginning of a sentence to indicate a concluding idea). For example:

• We finally got home at midnight.

• Finally, I'd like to thank everyone for coming this evening. 

2. Position in a sentence

Finally usually appears between the subject and the main verb, after the first auxiliary verb, modal verb, or the verb "to be." For example:

• Anna finally completed her thesis after months of hard work. 

• We should finally be able to take a break after finishing this project. 

• They have finally reached an agreement on the contract terms. 

• The concert was finally over, and everyone went home satisfied. 

II. What is At (long) last?

To distinguish the differences between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end, let’s explore what At last is!

At last is an English phrase that means: finally. For example:

• I've finished my essay at last!

• At last, we arrived at the hotel and were taken to our rooms. 

Additionally, At long last functions as an English idiom, meaning: finally after a period of waiting or delay. For example:

• The ship docked at long last. 

• At long last, the manager responded to me. 

Note: If At (long) last is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it should be followed by a comma to separate it from the main parts of the sentence.

III. What is Lastly?

Let’s explore what Lastly is before comparing Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end.

Lastly is pronounced /ˈlæst.li/ and functions as an adverb, meaning: to express something that comes last in a list. For example:

• They wash their hands, arms and faces, and lastly, they wash their feet. 

• In accepting this award, I would like to thank the producer, the director, the scriptwriter, and, lastly, the film crew. 

IV. What is In the end?

To accurately distinguish between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end, you need to grasp the meaning and usage of In the end.

In the end is a phrase, an English idiom that means: finally (after discussing to reach a decision/after a period of time/after a series of events and now there is a result). For example:

• Anna was still undecided a week before the election, but in the end, she voted for the incumbent. 

• In the end, only two countries sent military aid to the region. 

V. What is At the end?

To accurately differentiate between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end, let’s explore some details about At the end!

At the end is an English phrase that means: at the conclusion or in the final part of a specific time marker or location. For example:

• At the end of the meeting, we all agreed on the new project proposal.

• At the end of the road, you'll see a beautiful park. 

Phrases and idioms with At the end:

VI. Distinguishing Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end

Let's distinguish between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end with PREP right here!

VII. Exercises to Differentiate Between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end

To better understand the concepts and differences between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end, let's complete the exercise below with PREP!

1. Exercise: Fill in the blanks with “Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, or At the end” in the appropriate spaces:

1. __________, we finished the project after months of hard work.

2. The train arrived __________ after a long delay.

3. __________, I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this event.

4. __________ of the movie, there's a surprising twist.

5. We had some doubts, but __________ we decided to go with the original plan.

6. The suspenseful movie kept us guessing about the plot twists __________.

7.  We evaluate our achievements and set new goals __________ of the year,

8. __________, hard work and determination lead to success.

9. __________, it's up to you to make the decision.

10. The conference will take place __________ of this month.

2. Answer keys

In this article, PREP has provided you with detailed explanations of the concepts, usages, and differences between Finally, At last, Lastly, In the end, and At the end. Be sure to follow PREP regularly to stay updated with more valuable English knowledge!