had an interception

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had an interception" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the context of sports, particularly in American football, to describe a situation where a player catches a pass intended for an opponent. Example: "During the game, the cornerback had an interception that changed the momentum in our favor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The Giants had an interception and lost two fumbles against Washington, and were intercepted once and had three fumbles against Detroit.

The New York Times - Sports

He also had an interception.

The New York Times - Sports

Already, Sanchez had an interception overturned.

The New York Times - Sports

He had an interception and broke up another pass.

The New York Times - Sports

Eli Manning had an interception and the Giants' offensive line had some blatant lapses.

The New York Times - Sports

He finished 26 of 45 for 212 yards and had an interception.

The New York Times - Sports

He had an interception and six tackles in Cleveland's 17-16 loss.

The New York Times - Sports

Harris also had an interception in the Bears' loss to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.

The New York Times

Against New England in late September, Glenn had an interception at the Jets' 37-yard line.

The New York Times - Sports

Houston's Brian Cushing forced two fumbles that the Texans recovered and also had an interception.

The New York Times

Sean Malone had an interception at midfield late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about sports, ensure you use active voice to make the narrative more engaging. For example, instead of "the pass had an interception", write "the defender intercepted the pass".

Common error

Avoid using passive constructions when describing interceptions. Instead of saying "an interception was had by the quarterback", use the active voice: "the quarterback threw an interception".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had an interception" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a player performed the action of intercepting a pass. Ludwig shows this usage is most common in sports contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had an interception" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a player's action of intercepting a pass, primarily in sports reporting. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is widely used in News & Media contexts. While alternatives like "made an interception" or "intercepted a pass" exist, "had an interception" remains a straightforward and frequently used option for conveying this specific action in sports narratives. It is crucial to maintain an active voice when using the phrase in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intercepted a pass

Simplifies the phrase to the basic action of intercepting a pass.

made an interception

Replaces "had" with "made", emphasizing the action of intercepting.

picked off a pass

Uses the idiom "picked off" to describe the interception.

recorded an interception

Uses "recorded" to indicate that the interception was officially noted.

secured an interception

Uses "secured" to emphasize the successful acquisition of the interception.

snagged an interception

Employs "snagged" to convey a quick or skillful interception.

pulled down an interception

Uses "pulled down" to suggest the player physically secured the interception.

came up with an interception

Replaces "had" with "came up with", highlighting the act of acquiring the interception.

achieved an interception

Employs "achieved" to highlight the accomplishment of making an interception.

stole a pass

Uses the word 'stole' to indicate the action of intercepting.

FAQs

What does "had an interception" mean in football?

In football, "had an interception" means a defensive player caught a pass that was intended for an offensive player on the opposing team, thus gaining possession of the ball for their own team.

Is it better to say "made an interception" or "had an interception"?

Both "had an interception" and "made an interception" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context.

What is an alternative to saying someone "had an interception"?

Alternatives include "intercepted a pass", "picked off a pass", or "recorded an interception".

How is "had an interception" used in a sentence?

Example: "The cornerback had an interception in the fourth quarter, securing the win for his team."