done already

USAGE SUMMARY

"done already" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the phrase in situations where an action has been completed or finished earlier than expected. Example: I was surprised when the report was done already.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It has around 130 scripts done already.

Independent

But damage has clearly been done already.

The New York Times - Sports

"That's been done already," Millwood said.

The New York Times - Sports

Well, it's done already really, isn't it.

The Guardian - Sport

Just think what we've done already.

The Guardian

"It is far from done already.

The Guardian - Sport

I think he's done already, frankly".

The New York Times

We're very appreciative of what he's done already".

The New York Times - Sports

The season's real damage may be done already.

The Economist

Isn't this job being done already by other overseers?

The Economist

"The obvious things have been done already," Mr. Suozzi said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "done already" to convey a sense of efficiency or to reassure someone that a task is complete. For example, "Don't worry about sending the email; it's done already."

Common error

While "done already" is widely acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "previously completed" or "already addressed" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "done already" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates that an action has been completed before the current time or expectation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0.5%

Academia

0.3%

Reference

0.2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "done already" is a grammatically correct and very common adverbial phrase used to indicate that an action has been completed. As Ludwig AI points out, it's appropriate in many contexts, especially in news and media, but might be too informal for highly formal writing. Consider alternatives like "previously completed" or "already addressed" in professional settings. The phrase often conveys a sense of efficiency, surprise, or even impatience. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

already completed

Focuses on the completed aspect with emphasis on the fact that task is already finished.

previously finished

Highlights that the action was finished at an earlier point in time.

already taken care of

Emphasizes that the action has been managed or resolved.

already in progress

Implies that an activity is underway. Semantic similarity is lower but is used to stress that something is going on.

sorted already

Emphasizes that the action has been sorted out.

already addressed

Focuses on the fact that the action has been addressed.

dealt with already

Implies that the action has been handled and resolved.

mission accomplished

Idiomatic expression indicating the successful completion of a task.

already achieved

Highlights the accomplishment of the action, implying success.

all wrapped up

Informal way of saying something has been completely finished.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "done already" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "previously completed", "already addressed", or "previously finished" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "done already"?

Yes, the phrase "done already" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English to indicate that something has been completed.

What is the difference between "already done" and "done already"?

While both phrases are similar, "already done" emphasizes the state of completion, while "done already" can sometimes imply a sense of surprise or impatience, depending on the context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "done already"?

The phrase "done already" is appropriate in a variety of situations, especially when you want to quickly convey that a task has been completed, or when responding to a request that has "already been taken care of".