Vaiheeltaan

Vaiheeltaan is a Finnish adverbial form built from the noun vaihe, meaning phase or stage. In language use it expresses the aspect of something in relation to its phase or stages, and is typically translated into English as phase-wise or in terms of phase. The expression is common in formal Finnish, such as technical writing, project management, and scientific descriptions, where processes are discussed as progressing through distinct phases.

Grammatically, vaiheeltaan functions as an adverbial modifier that highlights the phase-related nature of an action or state. It is often used with verbs or adjectives to convey that the described phenomenon is considered or carried out with respect to its phase progression rather than in a general, phase-insensitive way. Because it carries a specialized nuance, vaiheeltaan is more typical of written or formal prose than everyday speech, where samalla commonly used alternatives include vaiheittain or eri vaiheissa.

Usage and nuance: vaiheeltaan tends to emphasize the structural or temporal dimension of a process, focusing on how things vary or are organized by phase. It can convey a sense of methodical progression or phase-specific characteristics, and it often appears in discussions of multi-phase procedures, development cycles, or research designs. When translating, options such as “phase-wise,” “by phase,” or “in terms of phase” capture the core meaning.

Examples: Hanke etenee vaiheeltaan hallitusti. Tutkimus on vaiheeltaan jäsennelty, ja jokainen vaihe on tarkasti määritelty. See also: Finnish grammar, adverbial constructions.