has described

USAGE SUMMARY

"has described" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been described in the past, typically in the context of a written or spoken description. For example: "The author has described the town's history in great detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The mayor has described homosexuality as satanic.

The New York Times

Each has described the other as selfish.

The New York Times

She has described herself as pro-Russian.

The New York Times

Yahoo has described the error as inadvertent.

The New York Times

For he has described her.

The Guardian - Books

Kilicdaroglu has described the move as "blackmail".

The Guardian

Vladimir Putin has described them as "volunteers".

The Guardian

Trump has described Mexican immigrants as rapists.

The Guardian

He has described these as "lost years".

The Guardian - Film

Pawlikowski has described Ida as a "miracle".

The Guardian - Film

Khan has described the attacks as "desperate".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has described" when referring to a past action where someone provided a detailed account or explanation. This perfect tense indicates a completed action with relevance to the present.

Common error

Avoid using "has described" when referring to future or ongoing actions. Instead, use "is describing" or "will describe" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has described" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (describing) that was completed at some point in the past but has relevance to the present. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

17%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has described" is a versatile present perfect verb phrase used to indicate that someone has provided a description, account, or characterization of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used, as exemplified by its presence in many contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives like "portrayed" or "characterized" exist, "has described" maintains a neutral tone and is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. Remember to use it for actions completed in the past with relevance to the present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

characterized

Emphasizes the identification and description of distinctive features or qualities.

defined

Implies a clear and precise explanation of the nature, scope, or meaning of something.

depicted

Focuses on visual representation or portrayal through art or imagery.

portrayed

Similar to depicted, but can also refer to representing something in a particular way through performance or narrative.

elucidated

Implies making something clear and easy to understand, often by providing additional information or clarification.

explained

Focuses on making something clear or understandable through detailed information.

illustrated

Involves providing examples or visual aids to clarify or explain something.

outlined

Suggests a presentation of the main features or structure of something in a summarized form.

presented

Focuses on the act of formally introducing or displaying something to an audience.

accounted for

Highlights the provision of a detailed explanation or justification for something.

FAQs

How do I use "has described" in a sentence?

Use "has described" when you want to indicate that someone has already given a description of something, like in the sentence, "The author "has described" the scene vividly."

What's a good substitute for "has described"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "has described" with alternatives such as "has characterized", "has portrayed", or "has outlined".

Is it correct to say "had described" instead of "has described"?

While both are grammatically correct, "had described" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, whereas "has described" connects a past action to the present. For example, "He had described the event before I arrived" versus "He "has described" the event in his book."

What is the difference between "has described" and "is describing"?

"Has described" indicates a completed action, while "is describing" indicates an ongoing action. For example, "The witness "has described" the suspect" means the description is finished. "The witness is describing the suspect" means the description is currently in progress.