had today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had today" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express something that occurred earlier in the day, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "I had today off from work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's how much fun I had today".

The New York Times - Sports

What the Mets had today was offense.

The New York Times - Sports

"The crowd we had today was incredible.

The Guardian - Sport

What kind of a morning have you had today?

The New York Times

They have the same personal problems they had today.

The New York Times - Sports

"This was a solid crowd we had today," Nader said.

The New York Times - Sports

"And not with the stuff I had today.

The New York Times - Sports

Those were probably the most pleasant moments Vermeil had today.

The New York Times - Sports

Yep, no more chances to be had today.

The Guardian - Sport

What little offensive momentum the Jets had today quickly evaporated.

The New York Times - Sports

Suggests there are scores out there to be had today.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, specify what "had" refers to. Instead of saying "the level I had today", specify "the level of performance I had today".

Common error

Ensure the context clearly indicates what "had today" is referring to. Vague usage can lead to misinterpretation. Instead of "the meeting we had today", clarify with "the team meeting we had today" to specify which meeting you mean.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had today" functions as part of a verb phrase, often modifying a noun to indicate an experience, possession, or event occurring on the current day. While common, it can be vague without further context. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not correct, but the examples show it appears in many contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Sport

31%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "had today" is frequently used across various contexts, mainly in News & Media and Sport, Ludwig AI marks it as not grammatically correct. This discrepancy suggests that although it's a common expression, it might lack grammatical precision. To improve clarity, it's recommended to specify what "had" refers to, avoiding vagueness. Alternatives like "experienced today" can provide a more precise meaning. Despite its commonality, writers should aim for enhanced clarity, especially in formal writing, by explicitly stating what was "had" on that day. It appears that, while common, this usage could benefit from rewording for improved precision and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced today

Replaces "had" with "experienced" to emphasize personal encounters or feelings during the day.

encountered today

Uses "encountered" instead of "had" to specify meetings or unexpected events happening today.

faced today

Uses "faced" instead of "had" to emphasize challenges or obstacles encountered during the day.

possessed today

Substitutes "had" with "possessed" to highlight ownership or control of something on this day.

was given today

Replaces "had" with "was given" to specify the act of receiving something on this day.

obtained today

Replaces "had" with "obtained" to focus on acquiring or gaining something specific today.

enjoyed today

Substitutes "had" with "enjoyed" to highlight pleasant experiences or activities of the day.

dealt with today

Substitutes "had" with "dealt with" to focus on handling or managing specific issues today.

underwent today

Replaces "had" with "underwent" to focus on processes or significant changes experienced today.

was presented with today

Rephrases to emphasize receiving or being offered something specific on this day.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had today" for better clarity?

Consider alternatives like "experienced today", "encountered today", or specify the subject, such as "the performance I had today" to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Is "had today" grammatically correct in formal writing?

While common, "had today" is generally considered grammatically awkward. For formal writing, it's better to use more precise phrasing such as "experienced today" or specify the object of "had". For example, the performance I had today is not the same as the performance I "experienced today".

What are some common mistakes when using the phrase "had today"?

A common mistake is using "had today" without a clear object, leading to ambiguity. Always clarify what was "had" to ensure your meaning is clear. For example, "The conversation we had today was very helpful" is better than "The conversation we "had today"".

What's the difference between saying "had today" and "experienced today"?

"Had today" is a general phrase, while "experienced today" specifically implies an encounter or feeling. The choice depends on the context: use "experienced" when referring to a feeling or sensation, and clarify with an object when using "had". For example, "The crowd we had today was incredible" versus "The feeling I "experienced today" was joy".