has worked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has worked" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has been employed or engaged in a particular job or activity up to the present time. Example: "She has worked at the company for five years and has gained valuable experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Somehow this has worked.

The Economist

Nothing has worked.

The New York Times

Strikingly, it has worked.

The New York Times

The strategy has worked.

The New York Times

Neither approach has worked.

The Economist

And terror has worked.

The Economist

And it has worked.

The New York Times

"Not everything has worked.

The New York Times

"Pay TV has worked.

The New York Times - Sports

"Nothing else has worked".

The New York Times

Neither strategy has worked.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the success of a long-term strategy or project, use "has worked" to emphasize the sustained positive outcome. For example: "The company's investment in renewable energy "has worked" to reduce its carbon footprint over the past decade."

Common error

While "has worked" is generally acceptable, overuse in informal writing can sound stilted. In casual conversation or informal writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "worked" or "did the trick" to maintain a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has worked" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action or strategy has been successful up to the present moment. Ludwig AI examples show it's commonly used to describe the effectiveness of various approaches, methods, or systems. The auxiliary verb "has" indicates the action's relevance to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has worked" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate that something has been effective or successful up to the present. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and appears across a broad spectrum of contexts, particularly in news and media, and business settings. While it's generally neutral in register, it's advisable to avoid overuse in very informal settings where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Remember to maintain subject-verb agreement and consider the specific nuance you wish to convey to select the most fitting alternative. Its frequent use in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and broad acceptance in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been effective

Replaces "worked" with "been effective", emphasizing the successful outcome of something.

has proven successful

Substitutes "worked" with "proven successful", highlighting the demonstrated success of a method or strategy.

has been implemented successfully

Replaces "has worked" with a more descriptive phrase indicating both implementation and success.

has been utilized effectively

Emphasizes the effective use of something rather than simply stating it "worked".

has functioned well

Replaces "worked" with "functioned well", focusing on the operational aspect of something.

has operated successfully

Similar to 'functioned well', but more formal and emphasizes the success of the operation.

has yielded results

Highlights the production of results as evidence that something "has worked".

has achieved its goal

Focuses on the achievement of a specific goal rather than the general concept of something working.

has borne fruit

A more metaphorical way of saying something "has worked", indicating that efforts have produced positive outcomes.

has delivered the goods

An informal idiom that means something "has worked" or has fulfilled expectations.

FAQs

What is the difference between "has worked" and "had worked"?

"Has worked" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present, while "had worked" refers to an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "She has worked here for five years" versus "She had worked there before moving to New York".

What are some alternatives to using "has worked" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has been effective", "has proven successful", or "has functioned well".

How do I use "has worked" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure the subject agrees with the auxiliary verb "has". For singular subjects, use "has worked"; for plural subjects, use "have worked". For example: "The strategy has worked" (singular) versus "Our efforts have worked" (plural).

Is "has worked" formal or informal?

"Has worked" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but consider the specific nuance you want to convey. For highly formal writing, phrases like "has been implemented successfully" may be more appropriate.