had them booked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had them booked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to having made arrangements or reservations for something, typically travel or events, in the past. Example: "I had them booked for the conference last month, but unfortunately, I couldn't attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They had them booked together.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

8. Review Vendors' Coverage Hours - Once you have selected all of your vendors, double check the amount of hours you have them booked or need them for.

Huffington Post

"They didn't provide much color on it, but in theory, they should be able to hook in someone who'd bought something on Hotwire, and have them book a room at Hotels".

The New York Times

Meanwhile, co-working spaces could charge users by the number of minutes they were actually present, rather than having them book time in half-hour or hour-long chunks, as they often do today.

TechCrunch

"[New patients] fill out an intake form…Once that is filled out, we have them book an intake appointment where they may meet with the RN, RPN or the NP, depending on availability, where the intake is reviewed.

BMC Health Services Research

"It was hard to find hotel rooms because the car companies had them all booked," she said.

The New York Times

Apparently the club owner had fired them, booked me, then hired them back to open for me so they were not stoked.

Vice

The Supreme Court did not strike down laws banning interracial marriage until 1967, in Loving v. Virginia, when 16 states still had them on the books.

The New York Times

He collected songs that employees had penned and had them published as book called Songs of the IBM in 1927.

BBC

securities anyway, often at higher prices than it had them recorded on its books.

The New York Times

Yaroslav also collected books and had them translated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had them booked", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what "them" refers to, to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "I had the musicians booked" instead of just "I had them booked".

Common error

Avoid using "had them booked" when the booking is tentative or unconfirmed. This phrase implies a confirmed reservation or arrangement. If it's not certain, use phrases like "was planning to book them" or "intended to have them booked".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had them booked" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. This construction indicates a completed action of booking someone or something before a specific point in the past.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had them booked" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to indicate that prior arrangements or reservations were made. As verified by Ludwig, it's suitable for various contexts, though slightly more common in news and media. Keep in mind to ensure clarity regarding who or what "them" refers to, and avoid using it for tentative bookings. Alternatives like "had reservations for them" or "had scheduled them" may offer more precision depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had reservations for them

This alternative emphasizes the act of reserving something, such as a table or tickets, for a group.

had scheduled them

This phrase highlights the act of placing someone or something into a timetable or schedule.

had appointments arranged for them

This alternative specifies that appointments were set up, often used in professional or medical contexts.

had made bookings for them

This emphasizes the action of creating the bookings, suitable for contexts involving travel or events.

had secured their reservations

This suggests that reservations were not just made, but also firmly established and guaranteed.

had their slots reserved

This alternative emphasizes the act of reserving specific time slots.

had them down for

A more informal way of saying they were scheduled or listed for something.

had them lined up

This phrase suggests that the arrangements are prepared and ready to go.

had organized it for them

This places emphasis on the act of organizing by someone else, and less about reserving.

had their places secured

Highlights the act of securing a spot, implying some effort in getting it.

FAQs

What does "had them booked" mean?

The phrase "had them booked" means that arrangements or reservations were made for someone or something in the past. It indicates that a booking was successfully completed.

What are some alternatives to "had them booked"?

You can use alternatives such as "had reservations for them", "had scheduled them", or "had appointments arranged for them" depending on the context.

Is "had them booked" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had them booked" is grammatically correct. It uses the past perfect tense to indicate that the booking was completed before a certain time in the past.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "had them booked"?

It is appropriate to use "had them booked" in contexts where you want to emphasize that arrangements were made in advance, such as booking a venue, hiring performers, or scheduling appointments. For example, "I had them booked for the conference last month."