had a surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a surgery" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it any time you need to refer to someone having a medical or surgical procedure. For example: "She had a surgery last week and is now recovering at home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

"Mathieu had a surgery on his right shoulder following the injury on Sunday," said Wenger.

The Guardian - Sport

Speaking to www.arsenal.com, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "Mathieu had a surgery on his right shoulder following the injury on Sunday.

Independent

One of the problems with being a WWE Superstar is that I literally get zero time off unless I'm injured, and usually when I'm injured I'm sat on the couch unable to move because I've just had a surgery.

Independent

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that the cancer was discovered last month after Gwynn had a surgery, his third round since 1997, to remove a tumor on the parotid gland, largest of the salivary glands.

The New York Times

To rule out the POMC, the patients were asked whether they had a surgery related to the maxillary sinus, and to rule out pseudocyst, it was checked whether the epithelial cells surround the lesion.

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

He had a surgery, and was recuperating.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"If they choose, later, to have a surgery — if it's their choice.

The New Yorker

2. Don't Have a Surgery - Mars rules surgery and is associated with surgeons.

Huffington Post

Do you know that you are likely to have a surgery in 2018?

Huffington Post

Buster, a 10-week-old pit bull mix needs to have a surgery to remove one of his legs.

Huffington Post

"I had to have a surgery so that's why I couldn't go with my sister.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about someone's medical history, using "had a surgery" is a clear and direct way to state that they underwent a surgical procedure. Be specific about the type of surgery if relevant.

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying solely on passive constructions like "surgery was had" can make your writing sound stilted. Opt for the active voice ("he had a surgery") for a more engaging and direct style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a surgery" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone underwent a surgical procedure. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in various contexts to describe past medical events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had a surgery" is a grammatically sound and very common way to express that someone underwent a surgical procedure. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in diverse contexts, from news reports to scientific articles. While various synonyms exist, like "underwent a surgical procedure" or "had an operation", "had a surgery" maintains a neutral register suitable for a wide audience. When using the phrase, consider providing specific details about the surgery for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had an operation

Common synonym, focusing on the action of operating.

underwent a surgical procedure

More formal and emphasizes the medical aspect.

went through surgery

Emphasizes the experience and process of undergoing surgery.

had surgical treatment

Highlights the treatment aspect of the surgery.

was operated on

Passive voice, focusing on the patient receiving the surgery.

required a surgical operation

Focuses on the necessity of the surgery.

experienced a surgery

Emphasizes the personal experience of undergoing surgery.

received surgical intervention

Formal and clinical, highlighting the medical aspect.

went under the knife

Informal and similar to "was under the knife", focusing on the action.

was under the knife

Informal, emphasizing the invasiveness of the procedure.

FAQs

What does "had a surgery" mean?

The phrase "had a surgery" means that someone underwent a medical operation or surgical procedure. It's a common way to describe a past surgical experience.

Is it correct to say "had a surgery"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. The Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct.

What are some alternative ways to say "had a surgery"?

You can use alternatives like "underwent a surgical procedure", "had an operation", or "went through surgery" depending on the context.

How can I use "had a surgery" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "She "had a surgery" to repair her knee.", or "After the accident, he "had a surgery" to fix his broken arm.".