admitted to having

USAGE SUMMARY

"admitted to having" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It is used when someone acknowledges that they are responsible for doing or having something. For example, "The suspect admitted to having committed the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only 10% admitted to having no religion.

The Economist

Ms. Gee admitted to having mixed feelings.

The New York Times

Suárez admitted to having felt "depressed".

The Guardian - Sport

Ms. Nelson admitted to having jitters.

The New York Times

The automaker subsequently admitted to having produced inaccurate numbers.

The New York Times

Later, Ms. Reece admitted to having practiced for several days.

The New York Times

She admitted to having an abortion during her twenties.

Independent

She admitted to having serious nerves about awards season.

The New York Times

The youths admitted to having filmed insurgent attacks.

The Economist

Afterward, he admitted to having shouted profanities, too.

The New York Times - Sports

Several admitted to having done no preparation for their hearing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "admitted to having", ensure the verb following "having" accurately reflects the action or state being acknowledged. For example, "He admitted to having made a mistake" is clearer than "He admitted to having something to do with it."

Common error

Avoid using "admitted to having" in contexts where the admission is unclear or indirect. It's more effective to directly state what was admitted. Instead of "She admitted to having reservations", consider "She admitted that she had reservations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admitted to having" functions as a verb phrase used to acknowledge or concede responsibility for an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, as seen in numerous examples across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

27%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "admitted to having" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase used to acknowledge responsibility for an action or state. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears predominantly in news and media, as well as scientific publications. While neutral in tone, it's crucial to ensure clarity by directly stating what's being admitted and avoiding ambiguous phrasing. Alternative phrases like "confessed to possessing" or "acknowledged possessing" can be used to convey slightly different nuances. By considering these writing tips, you can effectively and accurately incorporate "admitted to having" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confessed to possessing

Replaces "admitted" with "confessed" and "having" with "possessing", emphasizing a sense of guilt or wrongdoing.

testified to having

Replaces "admitted" with "testified", implying it's been stated during trial.

acknowledged possessing

Substitutes "admitted" with "acknowledged", which is a more neutral term for recognizing something.

owned up to having

Uses the idiomatic phrase "owned up to", conveying a sense of taking responsibility.

disclosed that they had

Replaces "admitted to having" with a more formal structure using "disclosed", suitable for professional contexts.

conceded to possessing

Replaces "admitted" with "conceded", implying reluctance or opposition before acknowledgment.

revealed that they possessed

Substitutes "admitted" with "revealed", suggesting that the information was previously hidden.

fessed up to having

Employs the informal term "fessed up to", indicating a casual or colloquial admission.

avowed possessing

Replace "admitted" with "avowed", which is used as formal or emphatic declaration.

confided in possessing

Implies sharing a secret or personal information with "confided in".

FAQs

How can I use "admitted to having" in a sentence?

Use "admitted to having" to acknowledge responsibility for an action or state. For example, "The company "admitted to having" made errors in its financial reports."

What's a more formal alternative to "admitted to having"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "acknowledged possessing" or "conceded to possessing". These alternatives provide a similar meaning with a more elevated register. For example, "The government "acknowledged possessing" sensitive information."

Is it always necessary to use "to having" after "admitted"?

No, you can also use "admitted that" followed by a clause. For instance, instead of "He "admitted to having" lied", you can say "He admitted that he lied". Both are grammatically correct, but the latter might be clearer in some cases.

What's the difference between "confessed to having" and "admitted to having"?

"Confessed to having" typically implies a stronger sense of guilt or wrongdoing than "admitted to having". While both indicate acknowledgment, "confessed" suggests a deeper sense of remorse or culpability. For example, "The thief "confessed to having" stolen the jewels", while "The student "admitted to having" cheated on the exam."