had contact with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had contact with" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe a past experience of communicating or interacting with someone or something. Example: "I had contact with the CEO of the company last week to discuss our new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

He touched everyone who had contact with him.

The New York Times

The city people had contact with them but very little.

Columbia University

Most are known to have had contact with infected birds.

The Economist

"I haven't had contact with Floyd in a long time.

The New York Times - Sports

And until a decade ago, few had contact with doctors.

The New York Times - Health

As a result, humans have had contact with boron containing compounds (BCCs) for a long time.

Toxicology Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To provide more context, specify the nature of the contact. For instance, instead of saying "He had contact with the company", specify "He had business contact with the company through a consulting project".

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences with "had contact with" in a way that obscures the actor. Instead of "The data had contact with the server", specify "The software had contact with the server to transfer the data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had contact with" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a past interaction or connection between two entities. Ludwig examples show it is used to express interactions in both formal and informal settings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

44%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had contact with" is a versatile and commonly used expression to describe past interactions or connections. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted. Analysis of numerous examples reveals its prevalence in news and scientific contexts. For alternative phrasings, consider options like "interacted with" or "communicated with", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When writing, avoid passive voice and specify the nature of the contact for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interacted with

Focuses on the reciprocal action between entities, suggesting a two-way exchange.

communicated with

Specifically emphasizes the exchange of information or ideas.

was in touch with

Implies regular communication or a maintained connection.

encountered

Highlights a brief or unplanned meeting.

was exposed to

Suggests a passive experience, often involving potential influence or risk.

dealt with

Implies managing or handling something or someone.

met with

Indicates a scheduled meeting for a specific purpose.

liaised with

Suggests a formal or professional connection, often for coordination.

engaged with

Emphasizes active participation or involvement.

corresponded with

Highlights written communication or exchange of letters.

FAQs

How can I use "had contact with" in a sentence?

You can use "had contact with" to indicate a past interaction or connection. For example: "The patient "had contact with" the infected animal".

What are some alternatives to "had contact with"?

Alternatives include "interacted with", "communicated with", or "was in touch with", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "had contact with" and "was in contact with"?

"Had contact with" typically refers to a completed interaction in the past, while "was in contact with" suggests an ongoing or repeated connection. For example: "He "had contact with" her once" versus "He "was in contact with" her regularly".

When is it appropriate to use "had contact with" in formal writing?

It's appropriate in formal writing when you need to clearly state that an interaction or connection occurred in the past. For instance, in a research paper: "The subjects "had contact with" the experimental stimuli".