February 11, 2010
Posted in lastly/finally, percentage/fraction at 9:09 am by dlseltzer
Weekly Language Usage Tips: Winter Wonderland Edition
Tip 1: Lastly or finally
A reader writes:
Can you write about lastly versus finally?
Yes, I can. And here is what I have to say:
Never use the word, ‘lastly.’
That was easy, but I bet that is not what the reader had in mind. So, I’ll address the issues that I suspect the writer is thinking about, however, I will come back to my original exhortation.
‘Lastly’ refers to the final item or action of a series of items or actions.
After watching the snow all day, I spent some time shoveling my steps. Lastly, I cleared off the porch.
This is the only way ‘lastly’ is properly used.
‘Finally,’ on the other hand, is much more versatile. Finally can be used like ‘lastly,’ above.
After watching the snow all day, I spent some time shoveling my steps. Finally, I cleared off the porch.
But ‘finally’ can also mean ‘eventually’ or ‘at last.’
It was quiet all day, but finally, I heard the sound of a snow plow off in the distance.
‘Finally’ can mean ‘in the end.’
Finally, all that was left was snow and ice.
‘Finally’ can also mean ‘conclusively.’
Just how many inches of snow have fallen has not been finally determined.
But why did I start off by saying: Never use the word, ‘lastly.’
That’s simple. I think ‘lastly’ is unwieldy and awkward. I was going to say it is ugly, but then I saw that someone described it as ‘stylistically unattractive,’ and I guess I’ll go with that. ‘Lastly’ is terribly stylistically unattractive. I would say ‘finally’ or ‘last’ instead. I would not use firstly, secondly, thirdly, or fourthly for the same reason. It is simpler and cleaner to use first, second, third, and fourth. Besides, how far would you go with this? At what number is it no longer acceptable to add an ‘ly’? For me, this starts at first and never changes.
Tip 2: Fraction or percentage?
A reader writes:
I wondered whether you can weigh in on the use of fraction vs. percentage.
For example:
Across the 12 scenarios there was substantial variation in the fraction of physicians included (range 20%-69%).
Because we report a percentage of 20% it seems like we should say instead, “in the percentage of physicians.” If we use fraction we should use 0.20 or 1 in 5. But I see the words used both ways and maybe they are interchangeable.
I would use ‘percentage’ as well. I would aim for the most precise term, and in this case, ‘percentage’ is the most precise. On the other hand, ‘fraction’ also can mean ‘a part of the whole,’ and in that sense, it is accurate as well. I think that, in many cases, the words can be used interchangeably.
The one caveat is that ‘fraction’ is often defined as ‘ a small part of the whole,’ and ‘fraction’ is associated with ‘small.’ So, I be cautious about using ‘fraction’ when referring to a substantial ‘percentage’ such as the 69% in the example above.
Permalink
The following words and phrases are very similar:
finally
at last
lastly
in the end
But the meaning is in fact slightly different. Let’s look at each one in more detail.
finally – Use 1
“finally” presents the last element of a series or list.
Examples:
Mark: What do we need from the supermarket?
Jane: We need eggs, milk, sugar and finally, a frying pan.
First, we need to rent an office. Then we need to buy some desks. Finally we need to recruit a secretary.
finally – Use 2
We use “finally” to express that one has been waiting a long time for something.
Position in a sentence
“finally” goes in the middle position of a sentence.
If the sentence has a main verb, then we put “finally” before the main verb.
Example: The bus finally arrived at midnight.
If the sentence has an auxiliary or modal verb, then we put “finally” after the auxiliary / modal verb and before the main verb.
Example: Andrew has finally bought a new car.
If the sentence has the verb “be” as a main verb (a linking verb), then we put “finally” after the verb “be”.
Example: The baby is finally asleep.
“at last” also expresses that one has been waiting a long time for something. “at last” strongly expresses impatience or inconvenience at the long wait.
Position in a sentence
We can put “at last” at the beginning, middle or end position.
Examples:
Beginning position: At last Mark has passed his degree.
Middle position: Mark has at last passed his degree.
End position: Mark has passed his degree at last.
lastly
“lastly” describes something that comes at the end of a series or list. (This is the same as use 1 of “finally” as described above.)
Examples:
To start with, I drank a cup of coffee. Then I sat down. Lastly, I read the newspaper.
Firstly, the house is too expensive; secondly, it’s in bad condition; thirdly, the location is awful; and lastly, we don’t need a new house.
in the end
“in the end” describes a conclusion after a long process, a lot of problems or after a lot of discussion and analysis.
Examples:
The manager interviewed her 3 times, and in the end he offered her the job.
We couldn’t decide between Paris, Rome or Madrid for our holidays. In the end, we chose Paris.
He isn’t a good driver but he passed his driving test in the end.
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-
#1
One of my students has written a letter to the fair management to hire a stand
for the Health and Beauty Fair in London. She finishes the letter as follows:
Lastly, I would like to ask if catering is provided by the fair management.
I doubt about lastly and wonder if it shouldn’t be finally or are these words
interchangeable?
-
#8
Finally
Thank you!
I have found the following on the Internet:
We use finally to refer to something that happened after a long time and usually after some difficulties.
There were no taxis and we finally got home at 2 pm.
She’s had over twenty interviews but Jasmine has finally got a job as a journalist.
We use at last when we have been impatient as a result of long delays.
At last I’ve discovered how to print envelopes on my printer!
She has at last given me the book she promised me.
They’re here at last!! We’ve been waiting half an hour.
We use lastly to refer to something that comes at the end of a long list:
We need eggs, milk, sugar, bread and, lastly, we mustn’t forget yoghurt for Dad.
last 1
(lăst)
adj.
1. Being, coming, or placed after all others; final: the last game of the season.
2. Being the only one left: his last nickel; as a last resort.
3. Just past; most recent: last year; the last time I checked.
4. Most up-to-date; newest: the last thing in swimwear.
5. Highest in extent or degree; utmost: to the last measure of human endurance.
6. Most valid, authoritative, or conclusive: The arbiter will have the last say in resolving this dispute.
7.
a. Least likely or expected: the last person we would have suspected.
b. The least desirable or suitable: the last man for the job.
8. Being the latest possible: waited until the last second before boarding the train.
9. Lowest in rank or importance: last prize; last place.
10. Used as an intensive: Every last dollar was donated to charity.
11.
a. Of or relating to a terminal period or stage, as of life: the last days of the dinosaurs.
b. Administered just before death: the last sacraments.
adv.
1. After all others in chronology or sequence: arrived last.
2. Most recently: a fashion last popular in the 1940s.
3. At the end; finally: Add the butter last.
n.
1. One that is at the end or last: the last to be chosen; on every page but the last.
2. The end: held out until the last.
3. The final mention or appearance: haven’t seen the last of our troubles.
Idioms:
at last
After a considerable length of time; finally.
at long last
After a lengthy or troublesome wait or delay: At long last the winter was over.
[Middle English, from Old English latost, superlative of læt, late; see lē- in Indo-European roots.]
last′ly adv.
Synonyms: last1, final, terminal, ultimate
These adjectives mean coming after all others in chronology or sequence. Last applies to what comes at the end of a series: the last day of the month. Something final stresses the definitiveness and decisiveness of the conclusion: Somehow he always seems to get the final word in what we end up doing. Terminal applies to what marks or forms a limit or boundary, as in space, time, or development: That railroad’s terminal city is a town with a large harbor. Ultimate applies to what concludes a series, process, or progression or constitutes a final result or objective: the ultimate sonata of that opus; our ultimate goal; the ultimate effect.
last 2
(lăst)
v. last·ed, last·ing, lasts
v.intr.
1.
a. To continue in time; go on: The war lasted four years.
b. To continue; survive: The patient is not expected to last much longer.
2.
a. To remain in good or usable condition: Produce lasts longer if it is refrigerated. I wanted a car that would last.
b. To continue in force or practice: wondered if the marriage would last.
3. To remain in adequate supply: Will our water last?
v.tr.
1. To keep adequately supplied: left enough bread to last the family for the weekend.
2. To persist or endure for the entire length of; survive: hoped to last the season without injuring her leg again.
last3
last 3
(lăst)
n.
A block or form shaped like a human foot and used in making or repairing shoes.
tr.v. last·ed, last·ing, lasts
To mold or shape on a last.
[Middle English leste, laste, from Old English lǣste, from lǣst, lāst, sole of the foot; see leis- in Indo-European roots.]
last 4
(lăst)
n. Chiefly British
A unit of volume or weight varying for different commodities and in different districts, equal to about 80 bushels, 640 gallons, or 2 tons.
[Middle English, load, a kind of measure, from Old English hlæst, load.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lastly
(ˈlɑːstlɪ)
adv
at the end or at the last point
sentence connector
in the end; finally: lastly, he put on his jacket.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
last•ly
(ˈlæst li, ˈlɑst-)
adv.
in conclusion; finally.
[1325–75]
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
last
– lastly
Last can be an adjective or an adverb.
1. ‘last’ used as an adjective
The last thing, event, or person of a particular kind is the one that comes after all the others.
He missed the last bus.
They met for the last time just before the war.
He was the last person to see Rebecca alive.
If you want to emphasize that someone or something is the last one of their kind, you can put very in front of last.
Those were his very last words.
I changed my mind at the very last minute.
Latest is sometimes used in a similar way.
2. ‘last’ used as an adverb
If something last happened on a particular occasion, it has not happened since then.
They last saw their homeland nine years ago.
It’s a long time since we met last.
If an event is the final one in a series of similar events, you can say that it happens last. You put last at the end of a clause.
He added the milk last.
Mr Ross was meant to have gone first, but in fact went last.
3. ‘lastly’
You can also use lastly to say that an event is the final one in a series. You put lastly at the beginning of a clause.
They wash their hands, arms and faces, and lastly, they wash their feet.
However, last and lastly are not always used in the same way. You usually use last to say that an event is the final one in a series of similar events. You use lastly when you are talking about events which are not similar.
For example, if you say ‘George phoned his aunt last‘, you usually mean that George had phoned several people and that his aunt was the last person he phoned. If you say ‘Lastly George phoned his aunt’, you mean that George had done several things and that the last thing he did was to phoned his aunt.
Lastly has a much more common use. You use it to introduce a final point in a discussion, ask a final question, give a final instruction, or mention a final item in a list.
Lastly, I would like to thank Mr. Mark Collins for his advice, assistance and patience.
Lastly I would like to ask about your future plans.
4. ‘at last’
At last and at long last are used to show that something that you have been waiting for or expecting for a long time has happened. These expressions usually go at the beginning or end of a clause.
The journey had taken a long time, but they had arrived at last.
At long last I’ve found a woman who really loves me.
5. ‘last’ with time expressions
You use last in front of a word such as week or month to say when something happened. For example, if it is August and something happened in July, you say that it happened last month.
Wolfgang and I had lunch with her last month.
The group held its first meeting last week.
Be Careful!
Don’t say that something happened ‘the last month‘ or ‘the last week‘.
Last can be used in a similar way in front of the names of festivals, seasons, months, or days of the week.
Last Christmas we received more than a hundred cards.
She died last summer.
I bought these shoes last Saturday.
Don’t, however, say ‘last morning‘ or ‘last afternoon‘. Say yesterday morning or yesterday afternoon.
It’s warmer this morning than it was yesterday morning.
Yesterday afternoon I had lunch with Cameron.
Be Careful!
Don’t say ‘last evening‘. Say yesterday evening or last night.
Yesterday evening another British soldier was killed.
I’ve been thinking about what we said last night.
6. ‘previous’ and ‘before’
When you are describing something that happened in the past and you want to refer to an earlier period of time, you use previous or before instead of ‘last’. For example, if you are talking about events that happened in 2005 and you want to mention something that happened in 2004, you say that it happened the previous year or the year before.
We had had an argument the previous night.
He had done some work on the farmhouse the previous summer.
The two women had met in Bonn the weekend before.
The quarrel of the night before seemed forgotten.
7. ‘before last’
You use before last to refer to the period of time immediately before the most recent one of its kind. For example, the year before last means ‘the year before last year’.
We went camping the summer before last.
I have not slept since the night before last.
8. ‘the last’
You can also use last to refer to any period of time measured back from the present. For example, if it is July 23rd and you want to refer to the period from July 2nd to the present, you refer to it as the last three weeks. Note that you must use the. If you want to say that something happened during this period, you say that it happened in the last three weeks or during the last three weeks.
He had asked himself that question at least a thousand times in the last eight days.
All this has happened during the last few years.
Be Careful!
Note the order of words in these examples. Don’t say ‘the eight last days‘ or ‘the few last years‘.
Be Careful!
Don’t use ‘in the last’ or ‘during the last’ on their own with a plural noun such as ‘years’ or ‘days’. For example, don’t say ‘Many changes have been made in the last years‘. Use a quantity word or a number. For example, say ‘Many changes have been made in the last few years‘. Or use recent instead. For example, you can say ‘Many changes have been made in recent years‘.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
Translations
nakonec
til sidste
viimeiseksi
naposljetku
végezetül
aî lokum
最後に
끝으로
nazadnje
slutligen
ที่สุดท้าย
cuối cùng
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
lastly
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
last1
(laːst) adjective
1. coming at the end. We set out on the last day of November; He was last in the race; He caught the last bus home.
2. most recent; next before the present. Our last house was much smaller than this; last year/month/week.
3. coming or remaining after all the others. He was the last guest to leave.
adverb
at the end of or after all the others. He took his turn last.
ˈlastly adverb
finally. Lastly, I would like to thank you all for listening so patiently to what I have been saying.
at (long) last
in the end, especially after a long delay. Oh, there he is at (long) last!
hear/see etc the last of
to be finished with, be able to forget. You haven’t heard the last of this!
the last person
a person who is very unlikely or unwilling to do a particular thing, or to whom it would be unwise or dangerous to do a particular thing. I’m the last person to make a fuss, but you should have told me all the same; He’s the last person you should offend.
the last straw
a fact, happening etc which, when added to all other facts or happenings, makes a situation finally impossible to bear.
the last thing
something very unlikely, unwanted, not intended etc. It’s the last thing you would think of looking for; The last thing I want is to hurt anyone.
the last word
1. the final remark in an argument etc. She always must have the last word!
2. the final decision. The last word rests with the chairman.
3. something very fashionable or up-to-date. Her hat was the last word in elegance.
on one’s last legs
very near to falling down or collapsing with exhaustion, old age etc.
to the last
until the very end. He kept his courage to the last.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
lastly
→ أَخِيرَاً nakonec til sidste schließlich εν κατακλείδι por último viimeiseksi finalement naposljetku infine 最後に 끝으로 ten slotte avslutningsvis w końcu por fim в заключение slutligen ที่สุดท้าย son olarak cuối cùng 最后
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
Lastlyadverb
(sequence) Used to mark the beginning of the last in a list of items or propositions.
‘Firstly, that’s illegal; secondly, it has serious disadvantages; thirdly, it’s not necessary; and lastly, did I mention that it’s illegal?’;
Lastadjective
Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.
‘“Eyes Wide Shut” was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick.’;
Lastlyadverb
(discourse marker) Used to signal that the speaker is about to yield control of the conversation.
Lastadjective
Most recent, latest, last so far.
‘The last time I saw him, he was married.’; ‘I have received your note dated the 17th last, and am responding to say that…}}.’;
Lastlyadverb
In the last place; in conclusion.
Lastadjective
Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.
‘He is the last person to be accused of theft.’; ‘The last person I want to meet is Helen.’; ‘More rain is the last thing we need right now.’;
Lastlyadverb
at last; finally.
Lastadjective
Being the only one remaining of its class.
‘Japan is the last empire.’;
Lastlyadverb
the item at the end;
‘last, I’ll discuss family values’;
Lastadjective
Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.
Lastadjective
Lowest in rank or degree.
‘the last prize’;
Lastdeterminer
The (one) immediately before the present.
‘We went there last year.’;
Lastdeterminer
Closest to seven days (one week) ago.
‘It’s Wednesday, and the party was last Tuesday; that is, not yesterday, but eight days ago.’;
Lastadverb
Most recently.
‘When we last met, he was based in Toronto.’;
Lastadverb
(sequence) after everything else; finally
‘I’ll go last.’; ‘last but not least’;
Lastverb
To perform, carry out.
Lastverb
(intransitive) To endure, continue over time.
‘Summer seems to last longer each year.’; ‘They seem happy now, but that won’t last long.’;
Lastverb
(intransitive) To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.
‘I don’t know how much longer we can last without reinforcements.’;
Lastverb
To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last.
‘to last a boot’;
Lastnoun
A tool for shaping or preserving the shape of shoes.
Lastnoun
(obsolete) A burden; load; a cargo; freight.
Lastnoun
(obsolete) A measure of weight or quantity, varying in designation depending on the goods concerned.
Lastnoun
(obsolete) An old English (and Dutch) measure of the carrying capacity of a ship, equal to two tons.
Lastnoun
A load of some commodity with reference to its weight and commercial value.
Last
of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth.
Lastadjective
Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.
‘Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.’; ‘Fairest of stars, last in the train of night.’;
Lastadjective
Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.
Lastadjective
Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.
‘Contending for principles of the last importance.’;
Lastadjective
Lowest in rank or degree; as, the a last place finish.
Lastadjective
Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.
‘And blunder on in business to the last.’;
Lastadverb
At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.
Lastadverb
In conclusion; finally; lastly.
‘Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires,Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires.’;
Lastadverb
At a time next preceding the present time.
‘How long is’t now since last yourself and IWere in a mask ?’;
Lastverb
To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.
‘[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted.’;
Lastverb
To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.
Lastverb
To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.
Lastnoun
A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.
‘The cobbler is not to go beyond his last.’;
Lastnoun
A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.
Lastnoun
The burden of a ship; a cargo.
Lastnoun
the temporal end; the concluding time;
‘the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell’; ‘the market was up at the finish’; ‘they were playing better at the close of the season’;
Lastnoun
the last or lowest in an ordering or series;
‘he was the last to leave’; ‘he finished an inglorious last’;
Lastnoun
a person’s dying act; the last thing a person can do;
‘he breathed his last’;
Lastnoun
the time at which life ends; continuing until dead;
‘she stayed until his death’; ‘a struggle to the last’;
Lastnoun
a unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds
Lastnoun
a unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels
Lastnoun
the concluding parts of an event or occurrence;
‘the end was exciting’; ‘I had to miss the last of the movie’;
Lastnoun
holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes
Lastverb
persist or be long; in time;
‘The bad weather lasted for three days’;
Lastverb
continue to live; endure or last;
‘We went without water and food for 3 days’; ‘These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America’; ‘The racecar driver lived through several very serious accidents’;
Lastadjective
immediately past;
‘last Thursday’; ‘the last chapter we read’;
Lastadjective
coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining;
‘the last time I saw Paris’; ‘the last day of the month’; ‘had the last word’; ‘waited until the last minute’; ‘he raised his voice in a last supreme call’; ‘the last game of the season’; ‘down to his last nickel’; ‘going from sitting to standing without intermediate pushes with the hands’; ‘intermediate stages in a process’; ‘intermediate stops on the route’; ‘an intermediate level’;
Lastadjective
occurring at or forming an end or termination;
‘his concluding words came as a surprise’; ‘the final chapter’; ‘the last days of the dinosaurs’; ‘terminal leave’;
Lastadjective
conclusive in a process or progression;
‘the final answer’; ‘a last resort’; ‘the net result’;
Lastadjective
most unlikely or unsuitable;
‘the last person we would have suspected’; ‘the last man they would have chosen for the job’;
Lastadjective
occurring at the time of death;
‘his last words’; ‘the last rites’;
Lastadjective
not to be altered or undone;
‘the judge’s decision is final’; ‘the arbiter will have the last say’;
Lastadjective
lowest in rank or importance;
‘last prize’; ‘in last place’;
Lastadjective
highest in extent or degree;
‘to the last measure of human endurance’; ‘whether they were accomplices in the last degree or a lesser one was…to be determined individually’;
Lastadjective
in accord with the most fashionable ideas or style;
‘wears only the latest style’; ‘the last thing in swimwear’; ‘knows the newest dances’; ‘cutting-edge technology’; ‘a with-it boutique’;
Lastadverb
more recently than any other time;
‘I saw him last in London’;
Lastadverb
the item at the end;
‘last, I’ll discuss family values’;
Last
A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes.