have contacted

USAGE SUMMARY

"have contacted" is a correct and usable verb phrase in written English.
Example Sentence: The customer service representative said they had already contacted the manufacturer about the defective product.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others have contacted customers individually.

The New York Times

"Blackburn have contacted us.

The Guardian - Sport

I would have contacted you long ago.

The New York Times

Also, birth parents have contacted young children.

The New York Times

"A couple of players have contacted me.

Independent

Will they have contacted alien intelligence?

Cornell University

CIT staff have contacted the vendor.

Cornell University

We have contacted her with our apologies.

The New York Times - Travel

I have contacted you several times.

The New Yorker

These people have contacted a stranger for a reason.

The New Yorker

I have contacted Three repeatedly by phone, Facebook and Twitter.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have contacted", ensure the context clearly indicates who initiated the communication and the purpose behind it. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "have contacted" when a simpler past tense like "contacted" would suffice. For example, instead of "We have contacted them yesterday", use "We contacted them yesterday" to sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have contacted" functions as a present perfect verb phrase. It indicates that an action of contacting someone has been completed at some point in the past, and the result or relevance of that action is still pertinent in the present. This is supported by Ludwig's numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have contacted" is a present perfect verb phrase used to indicate a completed action of communication that has present relevance. According to Ludwig, it's considered grammatically correct and is very common in writing. It is particularly prevalent in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the initiator and purpose of the communication. Avoid using it when a simple past tense like "contacted" would be more appropriate. Instead of "have contacted", you can use alternative phrases like "got in touch with" or "reached out to" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got in touch with

Emphasizes the initiation of communication.

reached out to

Highlights the effort made to establish contact.

been in touch with

A more general way of saying communication occurred.

made contact with

Emphasizes the establishment of a connection.

been in communication with

Focuses on an ongoing exchange of information.

communicated with

Highlights the act of conveying information.

spoken to

Implies a verbal exchange.

corresponded with

Suggests communication through letters or emails.

been in discussions with

Suggests a more formal or in-depth conversation.

liaised with

Indicates a collaborative communication, often in a professional setting.

FAQs

How to use "have contacted" in a sentence?

Use "have contacted" to describe an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. For example, "We "have contacted" the supplier to resolve the issue" indicates the contacting happened before, and the issue is still relevant.

What can I say instead of "have contacted"?

You can use alternatives like "got in touch with", "reached out to", or "been in communication with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have contacted" or "contacted"?

Both "have contacted" and "contacted" can be correct, but they imply different things. "Have contacted" (present perfect) indicates an action completed at an unspecified time in the past with present relevance, while "contacted" (simple past) refers to a completed action at a specific time in the past.

What's the difference between "have contacted" and "tried to contact"?

"Have contacted" means that you successfully made contact with someone. "Tried to contact" implies an attempt to reach someone, but it does not guarantee successful communication.