has had

USAGE SUMMARY

"has had" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has happened in the past and was completed at some point or is ongoing. For example: "She has had a difficult life but remains positive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It always has had.

Independent

Food has had no taste".

Independent

It has had bad luck.

The Economist

He has had two strokes.

The Economist

It has had an affect.

Independent

Skyride has had its troubles.

The New York Times

Biogen has had its problems.

The New York Times

Seymour has had many pupils.

The New Yorker

Michigan has had four constitutions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bay, too, has had injuries.

The New York Times - Sports

He has had a hernia.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has had" to connect a past experience or state to the present, showing its relevance to the current situation. For example, "She has had extensive training, making her an ideal candidate."

Common error

Avoid using "has had" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. For example, instead of "He has had a cold last week", say "He had a cold last week".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has had" functions as a present perfect construction, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past or an action that began in the past and continues to the present. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a grammatically correct way to connect past events to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has had" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to connect past experiences or states to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammar rules and is widely accepted. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for diverse writing contexts, but it's particularly prevalent in News & Media. Remember to use "has had" when the past action’s impact or relevance persists to the present. Avoid it when a simple past tense would suffice, and choose alternative phrases such as "experienced" or "undergone" to provide variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced

Focuses specifically on having gone through a particular event or situation.

undergone

Implies a process or change that something has been subjected to.

possessed

Emphasizes ownership or experience in the past.

gone through

Similar to "undergone" but more informal.

dealt with

Implies managing or handling a situation or problem.

been subjected to

Highlights that something or someone was influenced or controlled.

encountered

Stresses the meeting or facing of something, usually a challenge or opportunity.

seen

Highlights the experience of observing something.

knew

Focuses on the state of knowing something in the past.

did own

Emphasizes the act of owning something in the past.

FAQs

How do I properly use "has had" in a sentence?

Use "has had" when you want to describe an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present, or to indicate a completed action that occurred at an unspecified time in the past. For example, "She "has had" many challenges in her life, but she remains strong."

What are some alternatives to using "has had"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "experienced", "undergone", or "possessed" to convey similar meanings.

Which is correct, "has had" or "had had"?

"Has had" is used in the present perfect tense, while "had had" is used in the past perfect tense. The choice depends on the timeline of the actions you are describing. For example, "She has had a good day" (present perfect) versus "She had had a good day before the accident" (past perfect).

What's the difference between "has had" and "had"?

"Has had" is the present perfect form, indicating a past action with present relevance, while "had" is the simple past form, indicating a completed action in the past without necessarily implying present relevance. Example: "He "has had" the book for a week" (still has it) vs "He had the book last week" (doesn't necessarily have it now).