did you find

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did you find" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring whether someone has discovered or located something. Example: "Did you find the book I lent you last month?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Did you find it?

The New York Times

Did you find mine?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Did you find it useful?

The New York Times

How did you find Malala?

The New York Times

Did you find it helpful?

The New York Times

Where did you find those?

The New York Times

How did you find graffiti?

The New York Times

How did you find it?' ".

The New York Times

Did you find any shortcomings?

The New York Times

How did you find Faulkner?

The New York Times

Did you find them all?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did you find" to inquire about the results of a search, an investigation, or an experience.

Common error

Avoid using "did you find" when a passive construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "Did you find the error was caused by faulty code?", a better phrasing is "Was it found that the error was caused by faulty code?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did you find" functions primarily as an interrogative expression, used to inquire whether someone has located, discovered, or experienced something. Ludwig AI provides examples across diverse contexts to illustrate this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did you find" is a versatile and common interrogative expression used to inquire about the result of a search, investigation, or experience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, primarily in news and media, as well as science. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "were you able to locate" exist for professional settings. Remember to be specific in your query to avoid ambiguity and consider the context when choosing alternative phrasings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did you come across

Implies a casual or unexpected finding.

were you able to locate

Formal alternative focusing on the successful location of something.

were you successful in finding

Highlights the achievement of finding something.

did you succeed in locating

Focuses on the success of the search, implying effort was involved.

did you manage to uncover

Emphasizes the effort and potential difficulty in finding something hidden or unknown.

what were your findings

Used to inquire about the results of research or an investigation.

did you happen to discover

Suggests a chance encounter or accidental finding.

what did your search reveal

Focuses on the information uncovered during a search.

what did you turn up

Informal, often used when referring to an investigation or search.

did you unearth

Suggests a digging or thorough investigation to find something hidden.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "did you find" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "were you able to locate" or "did you succeed in locating", depending on the specific context.

What's a casual way to say "did you find"?

In informal settings, you can use phrases like "did you come across" or "what did you turn up" to ask if someone found something.

How to use "did you find" in a sentence about research?

When discussing research, you might ask, "What were your findings?" or "What did your search reveal?" instead of "did you find" for a more suitable tone.

Is it appropriate to use "did you find" in professional settings?

Yes, "did you find" is generally acceptable in professional settings. However, for added formality, consider using alternatives such as "were you successful in finding" to convey a more polished tone.