have a record of something

USAGE SUMMARY

"have a record of something" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has kept track of something, either physically or mentally. For example: "The company has a record of all their employees' work hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"To me, we've got to develop a tradition of helping people," he said, "so that when we say we're going to fix health care we have a record of actually doing something".

The New Yorker

Instead they have a record of 30-20.

The New York Times - Sports

The only thing that has changed in the years since is that now the Israeli right has a record of building something: settlements.

HuffPost

Some said that I would only be saying aloud what a lot of people think". Colonel Tin has a record as something of a maverick.

The New York Times

It has a record of dodgy accounting.

The Economist

The Braves had a record of 46-36.

Wikipedia

It certainly has archive value as a record of something fantastically terrible, a so-bad-it's-bad nightmare which could only have come from that era of stately art-porn.

The Guardian - Film

I'd more have to look in my phone than on the shelf but maybe I'll find a record of something that I have on my phone and listen to.

Vice

ARM has a record backlog of orders.

The Economist

They can't have people going into the elderly home and have a criminal record of stealing or something of that nature.

WikiHow

Watching the helicopter disappear into the night, Pedro Gallo, a technician who helped build the rescue capsule said: "They have left a permanent record of something beautiful that happened here".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have a record of something" to emphasize the existence of documented evidence or historical information about a particular event, action, or item.

Common error

Avoid using "have a record of something" when you mean to suggest that someone is actively monitoring or tracking an event as it happens; this phrase typically refers to past events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a record of something" functions as a predicative expression. It indicates that a subject possesses documentation or historical information about a specific action, event, or item. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous real-world examples showcasing its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have a record of something" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions primarily to indicate the existence of documentation or a historical account regarding a specific event or action. While frequently encountered in News & Media, it maintains a neutral formality suitable for diverse contexts. Common errors involve misinterpreting its meaning to suggest active monitoring rather than referencing past documentation. Related phrases such as ""document something"" and ""keep a log of something"" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts, enriching one's communicative toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

document something

Focuses specifically on the act of creating a written or visual record.

keep a log of something

Implies a more detailed and ongoing record-keeping process.

maintain a history of something

Highlights the preservation of past events or occurrences.

retain information about something

Emphasizes the preservation of knowledge or data.

have proof of something

Suggests possession of evidence that confirms an event or action.

possess documentation of something

Highlights the formal ownership of records or documents.

have a note of something

Emphasizes having a brief written reminder or record.

catalog something

Focuses on the systematic listing and organization of items or information.

archive something

Implies the storage and preservation of historical records.

register something

Highlights the formal recording of information in an official system.

FAQs

How can I use "have a record of something" in a sentence?

You can use "have a record of something" to indicate that documentation or information exists about a particular event or action. For example, "The company "has a record of all its transactions"".

What are some alternatives to "have a record of something"?

Alternatives include "document something", "keep a log of something", or "maintain a history of something", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "maintain a history of something" rather than "have a record of something"?

Yes, "maintain a history of something" is generally more formal than "have a record of something". The former implies a more deliberate and comprehensive effort in preserving information.

What's the difference between "have a record of something" and "have proof of something"?

"Have a record of something" implies the existence of documentation, while "have proof of something" implies the existence of evidence that validates a claim or event. The former is about documentation; the latter is about verification.