had an operating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had an operating" is not correct as it stands and lacks context for proper usage in written English.
It could be used in a context where you are describing a past situation involving an operation, but it needs additional information to be complete. Example: "The hospital had an operating room ready for emergencies."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

EADS had an operating profit in 2008 of 2.8 billion.

The New York Times

In 2010, the bank had an operating profit of £2.1bn.

The Guardian - Business

Even more compelling, 12 companies that had an operating profit in 1999 would have had an operating loss if stock options were considered an expense.

The New York Times

"I'm not 100 percent passive," he said, noting that he had an operating partner.

The New York Times

EADS had an operating profit in 2008 of 2.8 billion euros.

The New York Times

"New York's first prison, for example, had an operating board composed primarily of Quaker reformers".

The New York Times

The Wolverines had an operating budget of nearly $1 million and played home games on campus.

The New York Times - Sports

As for the school itself, it had an operating budget of $55m.

The Guardian - Opinion

It had an operating profit of $2.5 million; it did not report a loss.

The New York Times

When Ms. Gotbaum took charge of the society, it had an operating deficit of $2.6 million.

The New York Times

The result: in 2009 the bank had an operating loss of £6.1bn.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had an operating", ensure you provide enough context to specify what was operating. For example, "The company had an operating profit" is clearer than "The company had an operating."

Common error

Avoid using "had an operating" without specifying the subject and context. For example, instead of saying "The system had an operating", specify what kind of operating it was, such as "The system had an operating system".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had an operating" typically functions as part of a verb phrase. It requires a noun to clarify what specifically "had an operating", such as profit, loss, budget, or system. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is incomplete without additional context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had an operating" is frequently found across various sources, particularly in news and media reporting on business and finance. However, Ludwig AI correctly points out that the phrase requires additional context to be grammatically complete and clear. Common uses include describing a company's operating profit or loss, or the operational status of a system or budget. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify what "had an operating" refers to, such as "had an operating profit" or "had an operating system". While the phrase is common, providing more specific detail avoids ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a working

This phrase is a simpler and more common way of saying something was functional.

had functional

This alternative is more concise and focuses on the functionality aspect.

was operating

This is a simpler, more direct way of stating that something was in operation.

operated with

This alternative replaces "had an operating" with a verb phrase suggesting a manner of operation or functionality.

maintained operations

This focuses on the continuation of operational activities.

ran operations

Suggests the management and execution of operational processes.

possessed operational

Emphasizes ownership or control over operational capabilities.

utilized an operating

Highlights the use of something that is operational.

featured operational

Focuses on the characteristic of having operational capabilities.

included an operating

Highlights the inclusion of an operating component.

FAQs

How can I use "had an operating" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure that you provide sufficient context to clarify what "operating" refers to. For instance, "The business had an operating profit of $1 million" is clearer than simply saying "The business had an operating".

What are some alternatives to "had an operating"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "operated with", "was operating", or "had functional".

Is it grammatically correct to say "had an operating" without further context?

Ludwig AI suggests that "had an operating" is incomplete and needs additional information to be grammatically sound. It's generally better to specify what was operating, such as "had an operating system" or "had an operating budget".

What's the difference between "had an operating profit" and "made an operating profit"?

"Had an operating profit" indicates the existence of an operating profit in the past. "Made an operating profit" implies that the profit was generated or earned during a specific period.