did that work

USAGE SUMMARY

"Did that work?" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in the context of asking if an action you or someone else took had the desired effect. For example, "I tried restarting the computer, did that work?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Why did that work?

The New Yorker

How did that work out?

The New York Times

And how did that work out?

The New York Times

How did that work out for him?

Independent

"How did that work for us?

The New York Times

How did that work out, fellas?

The New York Times

"How did that work for you?" Perkins shouted at Harris.

The New York Times - Sports

And how did that work out, he was asked.

The New York Times

So how did that work out for the Zeitgeist?

The Guardian

How did that work out for ya, Nance?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

How on Earth does that work?'.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Did that work?" to casually inquire about the success of a specific action or solution.

Common error

While "Did that work?" is perfectly acceptable in informal settings, consider using more formal alternatives like "Was that effective?" or "Did that achieve the desired outcome?" in professional or academic writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Did that work?" functions as an interrogative clause, specifically a direct question. It seeks confirmation about the effectiveness or success of a previously performed action or a deployed solution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Did that work?" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to inquire about the success or effectiveness of a prior action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. For more formal situations, consider alternatives such as "Was that effective?". The phrase's primary function is to solicit feedback about whether an action achieved its intended outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Was that effective?

Replaces "work" with "effective", focusing on the achieved result.

Did that succeed?

Substitutes "work" with "succeed", emphasizing the accomplishment of a goal.

Did that pan out?

Uses the idiomatic expression "pan out", indicating whether something turned out well.

Did that have the desired effect?

Specifically questions if the intended outcome was reached.

Did that accomplish anything?

Asks if any result was achieved.

Did that make a difference?

Focuses on whether a noticeable impact was made.

Did that turn out as expected?

Inquires if the result matched the anticipated outcome.

Did that solve the problem?

Asks if a particular issue was resolved.

Did that resolve the issue?

A more formal version of "Did that solve the problem?".

Did we get the result we wanted?

Focuses on whether a desired outcome was achieved, with an emphasis on the result.

FAQs

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

You can use "Did that work?" to ask if a particular action or solution was successful. For example, "I tried restarting the server, "did that work"?"

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

You can use alternatives like "was that effective"?, "did that succeed"?, or "did that pan out"? depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "Did that work?"?

"Did that work?" is most appropriate in informal or casual settings when asking about the success of something someone tried. In formal contexts, it may be more suitable to use alternatives such as "was that effective"? or "did that achieve the desired outcome"?

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

Both "Did that work?" and "Did it work?" are grammatically correct. "Did that work?" is used when referring to a specific action or solution, while "Did it work?" is more general.