have done away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have done away" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has been eliminated or abolished. Example: "The new policy has done away with the outdated regulations that were hindering progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Hell, they have done away with all that stuff.

The Guardian

Otherwise I would have done away with myself.

The New Yorker

Zambia and Mauritius have done away altogether with foreign exchange controls.

The Economist

A few low-cost carriers, such as Britain's easyJet, have done away with food altogether.

The Economist

"Americans boast they have done away with torture," Fay wrote, "but the debtors' prison is torture".

The New Yorker

But trying to improve the bottom line, many have done away with them.

The New York Times

"We have done away with this monstrous piece of Manichaean rubbish".

The New Yorker

The modest provision that was cut would have done away with the cumbersome process.

The New York Times

New managers have done away with the rule and are encouraging families to stay.

The Guardian - Travel

They have done away with staff meetings and handover periods in all forms.

The Guardian

Tournament directors have done away with the traditional women-first, men-second line-up.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have done away with" when you want to emphasize the complete removal or abolishment of something, often something that was previously established or customary.

Common error

Ensure correct verb conjugation. "Have done away" is present perfect tense, so it's important to use it accurately. Incorrect usage might include mixing tenses, such as "had done away" when the present perfect is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "have done away" functions as a predicate in a sentence. It indicates that the subject has eliminated or abolished something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a commonly used expression to describe the removal of something, whether it's a rule, a practice, or an object.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

17%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "have done away" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the elimination or abolishment of something. As Ludwig AI verifies, this phrase is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it's suitable for general use, more formal alternatives like "eliminated" or "abolished" might be preferred in academic or professional settings. To ensure correct usage, pay attention to verb conjugation and context. The phrase effectively communicates the cessation of practices, policies, or customs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did away with

A more concise way of expressing the elimination of something.

eliminated

Signifies the complete removal or eradication of something.

abolished

Indicates a formal ending of a system, practice, or institution.

removed

Indicates that something has been taken away or displaced.

got rid of

An informal way of saying something has been discarded or removed.

repealed

Refers to the revocation or annulment of a law or regulation.

terminated

Implies a formal ending or cessation.

scrapped

Suggests the discarding of something as useless or unwanted.

canceled

Indicates that something planned or scheduled has been stopped.

nullified

Means something has been made void or legally invalid.

FAQs

What does "have done away" mean?

The phrase "have done away with" means to eliminate, abolish, or get rid of something. It suggests that something is no longer in use or existence.

How can I use "have done away" in a sentence?

You can use "have done away with" to describe the removal of a policy, practice, or item. For example, "The company "eliminated" its old dress code" or "The new law "abolished" the tax". Both are equivalent to "The company "have done away" with its old dress code" or "The new law "have done away" with the tax".

What are some alternatives to "have done away with"?

Some alternatives include "eliminated", "abolished", "got rid of", "removed", and "scrapped". The best choice depends on the context.

Is "have done away with" formal or informal?

"Have done away with" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "eliminated" or "abolished" might be more appropriate for highly formal writing.