I underwent surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'I underwent surgery' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking or writing about having surgery in the past. For example: "I underwent surgery last week to remove my appendix."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

On September 6th, I underwent surgery, and returned to our apartment that night with crutches and instructions not to bear weight on my leg.

The New Yorker

I discovered how it would feel to have others see me when I had the system removed before I underwent surgery.

The Guardian

I didn't wait around for details; a friend gave me a ride (and received a speeding ticket in the process) and I underwent surgery the minute I got to the hospital.

Science Magazine

On June 10 , 1998 I underwent surgery to remove the tumors.

Huffington Post

Last week I underwent surgery at Inova Fairfax Heart and Vascular Institute and had an LVAD implanted.

Huffington Post

At 44-years-old, I underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation as my boys looked on, sometimes asking questions, other times simply rubbing and kissing my bald head.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

No, I have just returned after two-and-a-half years on the sidelines during which I also underwent surgery to reconstruct a ruptured post-cruciate ligament in my left knee which involved a hamstring graft from both legs.

Independent

Patients with stage I-III NSCLC, who underwent surgery in our hospital from January 2004 to December 2007 and who also received adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, were analyzed in this study.

BMC Cancer

This study included 113 patients with stages I-III TNBC who underwent surgery for their primary tumor between February 2005 and February 2012.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

I underwent surgeries early on that probably were not the best course of treatment for me.

Huffington Post

"I've undergone surgery six or seven times, and I had to learn to speak all over again," he recounted.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the type of surgery, follow "I underwent surgery" with a specific descriptor, such as "I underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL".

Common error

Don't use "I underwent surgery" without providing context or specifying the reason for the procedure. This can leave the reader wondering about the specifics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I underwent surgery" functions as a declarative statement indicating that the speaker or subject experienced a surgical procedure. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It typically introduces a personal narrative or provides context in medical discussions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

8.33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8.33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I underwent surgery" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a past surgical experience. Ludwig AI supports this, deeming the phrase usable in written English. Its formality is neutral, fitting various contexts from personal narratives to medical reports. The phrase is most frequently found in "News & Media" sources, followed by "Science" and "Academia", as seen in the Ludwig examples. When using this phrase, it's helpful to provide additional context about the type of surgery or the reason for it to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had an operation

Replaces the more formal "underwent surgery" with a simpler, more common expression.

I had a surgical procedure

Substitutes "surgery" with the more technical term "surgical procedure".

I was operated on

Uses a passive construction to describe the experience of having surgery.

I went through surgery

Emphasizes the process or experience of undergoing surgery.

I received surgical treatment

Focuses on the treatment aspect of the surgery.

Surgery was performed on me

Another passive construction, highlighting that the surgery was done to the speaker.

I was subjected to surgery

Suggests a more negative or unavoidable connotation of the surgery.

I required an operation

Highlights the necessity of the surgery.

I was a surgical candidate

Focuses on the speaker's eligibility or need for surgery.

I obtained surgical intervention

Uses formal language to describe receiving surgical help.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I underwent surgery"?

You can use alternatives like "I had an operation", "I had a surgical procedure", or "I was operated on depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I underwent a surgery"?

While understandable, it's more grammatically sound to say "I underwent surgery" without the article "a" before "surgery".

What's the difference between "I underwent surgery" and "I had surgery"?

"I underwent surgery" is slightly more formal than "I had surgery", but both are generally interchangeable. The choice depends on the context and your desired tone.

How to use "I underwent surgery" in a sentence?

You can use "I underwent surgery" to describe a past surgical procedure. For example, "I underwent surgery last year to correct a knee injury."