did it work

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "Did it work?" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone or yourself if an attempt at achieving a goal had been successful. For example: She tried to repair the broken appliance, but she wasn't sure if it would work. She asked herself, "Did it work?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Why did it work?

The New York Times

So did it work?

The New Yorker

How did it work?

The New Yorker

Did it work?

The New York Times

"Did it work?" she said.

The New York Times - Arts

Did it work for you?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Does it work, though?

The New Yorker

Why does it work?

The New York Times

But does it work?

The New York Times - Books

So does it work?

Forbes

Boy does it work.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Did it work?" to inquire about the success of a specific action or plan in a straightforward manner. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings.

Common error

While "Did it work?" is versatile, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "Was it successful?" or "Did it prove effective?" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Did it work?" functions as an interrogative clause used to inquire about the success or effectiveness of a previously performed action or implemented strategy. It directly seeks confirmation or denial of a positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Did it work?" is a grammatically sound and commonly used interrogative, primarily used to inquire whether a specific action or strategy achieved its intended purpose. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and its frequent usage in both formal and informal settings. While highly versatile, it is important to consider the context and opt for more formal alternatives such as "Was it successful?" or "Did it prove effective?" in academic or professional writing. With frequent use in news, media, and academic sources, "Did it work?" stands as a straightforward and practical way to assess the success of an undertaking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Was it successful?

Focuses directly on the outcome of an action.

Did it succeed?

Emphasizes the achievement of the desired result.

Did it turn out well?

Considers the overall quality of the result, implying a positive outcome.

Did it prove effective?

Highlights the effectiveness or efficiency of the action.

Did it accomplish the goal?

Specifically questions whether the intended objective was reached.

Did it achieve the desired result?

Focuses on obtaining a specific outcome or consequence.

Did it deliver the expected outcome?

Questions whether the action produced the anticipated or predicted outcome.

Was the endeavor fruitful?

Implies whether the effort or undertaking produced a positive outcome or benefit.

Did the strategy pay off?

Evaluates if a specific plan or strategy yielded the desired benefits or advantages.

Did the method prove useful?

Queries whether the selected method or approach was practical and advantageous.

FAQs

How can I use "Did it work?" in a sentence?

Use "Did it work?" to inquire about the success of an action or attempt, such as "She tried the new software. "Did it work"?". It's a direct way to ask if something was successful.

What can I say instead of "Did it work?"?

You can use alternatives like "Was it successful?", "Did it succeed?", or "Did it turn out well?" depending on the context. Each alternative has slightly different nuances, so choose the one that best fits the situation.

Which is correct, "Did it work?" or "Did it worked?"

"Did it work?" is correct. "Worked" is the past participle, and you only need the base form of the verb after the auxiliary verb 'did'. "Did it worked?" is grammatically incorrect.

What’s the difference between "Did it work?" and "How did it work?"

"Did it work?" inquires whether something was successful or not. "How did it work?" asks about the process or method by which something achieved (or attempted to achieve) a result.