could have doubled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have doubled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where something had the potential to increase or multiply. Example: "If we had invested earlier, our profits could have doubled by now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If North could have doubled two hearts for penalty, it would have been lucrative.

The New York Times

More recently, he earned attention for interviews that could have doubled as performance art.

The New York Times - Sports

"Probably could have doubled Mobley in the Clipper game when he backed Steph down," Thomas said.

The New York Times - Sports

They could have doubled their lead with midfielder Roli Bonevacia hitting the post.

The Guardian - Sport

This advance save challenged North, who could have doubled and collected a penalty of 300.

The New York Times - Arts

And to think he could have doubled that tally with a touch more composure.

The Guardian - Sport

The numbers are considered impressive, but experts reckon that he could have doubled them had he immigrated to England sooner.

The New York Times

He only dated soul sisters, most of whom could have doubled for Cleopatra Jones, all Afro and attitude.

The New York Times

"Looking back, we probably could have doubled him on the catch more and forced other people to make plays.

The New York Times - Sports

If Gatlin and Bolt had gotten into a shouting match after the two hundred, we could have doubled our audience.

The New Yorker

Backstage, Rachel Ma (below), a dancer, pulled on woolly striped opera gloves that could have doubled as leg warmers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could have doubled" to express a missed opportunity or a hypothetical scenario where a quantity or value might have been twice as large as it actually was.

Common error

Avoid using "could of doubled" as it is a common misspelling. The correct form is "could have doubled".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have doubled" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a past hypothetical possibility. Ludwig's examples show it frequently describes scenarios where a quantity or value had the potential to increase significantly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could have doubled" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express hypothetical possibilities in the past, often implying a missed opportunity or a potential for greater increase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business. While it's essential to avoid the common misspelling "could of doubled", the phrase serves as a valuable tool for expressing speculation, regret, or potential outcomes that might have been. Alternative phrases like "might have increased twofold" or "had the capacity to double" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have increased twofold

Emphasizes a potential increase by a factor of two.

potentially could have multiplied

Highlights the multiplication aspect of the increase.

had the capacity to double

Focuses on the inherent ability to increase.

was in a position to double

Highlights the favorable circumstances for doubling.

would have seen a twofold rise

Specifies the type of increase as twofold.

had the opportunity to double

Emphasizes the missed chance to double.

could have achieved a twofold increase

Highlights the accomplishment of doubling.

was able to double

Expresses past ability to double.

could have been twice as much

Focuses on the result being twice the original amount.

may have doubled

Expresses a weaker possibility of doubling.

FAQs

How can I use "could have doubled" in a sentence?

You can use "could have doubled" to express that something had the potential to increase to twice its size, amount, or value in the past. For example, "If we invested earlier, our profits "could have doubled"."

What does "could have doubled" mean?

The phrase "could have doubled" indicates a past possibility where something had the potential to become twice its current amount or value. It often implies a missed opportunity or a hypothetical scenario.

What are some alternatives to using "could have doubled"?

Alternatives include phrases like "might have increased twofold", "potentially could have multiplied", or "had the capacity to double", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "could have doubled" or "could of doubled"?

"Could have doubled" is the correct form. "Could of doubled" is a common error arising from the contraction "could've", which sounds similar to "could of" but is grammatically incorrect.