had contact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had contact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has interacted or communicated with another person or entity in the past. Example: "I had contact with the client last week to discuss the project details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Oh, yeah, we had contact.

The New Yorker

"It's true, I had contact.

The Guardian - Sport

Already the Second Brigade has had "contact".

The New York Times

"He hasn't had contact," Krzyzewski said.

The New York Times - Sports

Both women had had contact with live poultry.

The New York Times

People we haven't had contact with in years are calling.

The New York Times

"I had contact with reality through Ingrid," Bergman says.

The New Yorker

Has the youngest victim had contact with the outside world?

The Guardian

A great inspiration to all who had contact with him.

The New York Times

"We haven't had contact," Young said in New York City.

The Guardian - Music

It had contact details for a psychiatric hospital in Philadelphia.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had contact", be specific about the nature and purpose of the contact to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "had contact" without specifying the context or outcome of the interaction. Provide details about the communication or engagement to enhance understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had contact" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past interaction or communication. It connects a subject with an object, showing that some form of engagement occurred. Ludwig provides various examples demonstrating its use in diverse scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had contact" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that an interaction or communication occurred in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. It's frequently used in News & Media and Science, indicating its versatility. While "had contact" is generally neutral, specifying the nature of the contact enhances clarity. Related phrases include "was in communication" and "interacted with", offering alternative ways to convey similar meanings. Remember to provide context when using "had contact" to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

communicated with

Directly indicates the act of conveying messages.

was in communication

Focuses on the aspect of exchanging information.

was in touch

Highlights the maintenance of a connection.

interacted with

Emphasizes the action of engaging with someone or something.

engaged with

Similar to interacted, but slightly more formal.

corresponded with

Suggests a formal exchange, often in writing.

reached out to

Highlights the initiation of contact.

met with

Focuses on a face-to-face interaction.

liaised with

Implies a professional or collaborative interaction.

had dealings with

Highlights interactions within a business or transactional context.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "had contact"?

You can use alternatives like "was in communication", "interacted with", or "was in touch" depending on the context.

How to use "had contact" in a sentence?

Use "had contact" to indicate a past interaction or communication with someone or something. For example, "I had contact with the client last week."

What's the difference between "had contact" and "communicated with"?

"Had contact" is a general term for any form of interaction, while "communicated with" specifically refers to the exchange of information.

Is it correct to say "have had contact" instead of "had contact"?

Yes, "have had contact" is correct and indicates contact that occurred at some point before the present. "Had contact" refers to a specific instance or period in the past.