have done was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have done was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a combination of verb forms that do not work together grammatically. Example: "What I have done was not enough to satisfy the requirements." (This should be rephrased for correctness.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The least Romney might have done was avoid misrepresenting them.

The New York Times

What I should have done was cut some things.

The Guardian - Film

All we would have done was provoke them".

The New York Times

What she should have done was ask for the penalty to be retaken.

Independent

"What I have done was wrong and against everything that I had believed in".

The New York Times

He said something rude, and what I should have done was just walk away.

The New Yorker

What he could not possibly have done was foresee a relapse.

The New Yorker

What you could have done was speak to the defendant's lawyer.

The New York Times - Magazine

What I hadn't planned for, though I really should have done, was a broody hen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What they should have done was look at the whole picture and the entire industry".

The New York Times

"What no one else could have done was make this particular machine heal itself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past actions, ensure the verb tenses are grammatically correct. Instead of using "have done was", use phrases like "what was done" or "what has been done" for accuracy.

Common error

Avoid combining auxiliary verbs incorrectly. "Have done was" mixes present perfect auxiliary "have" with the past tense "was", creating a grammatically incorrect structure. Instead, select the appropriate auxiliary verb based on the intended tense and meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have done was" is grammatically incorrect. Its intended function, based on the examples provided by Ludwig, often seems to be to emphasize a past action or a completed task. However, due to its incorrect structure, it fails to achieve this function effectively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "have done was" appears frequently in various sources, including news outlets, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it's intended to describe past actions or completed tasks, but its incorrect structure undermines its effectiveness. It is best to avoid this phrase in formal writing and opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "what was done" or "what has been done". The high frequency of this phrase, despite its incorrectness, suggests that it is a common error, reinforcing the importance of careful proofreading and attention to grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what was done

Focuses on the completed action without the auxiliary verb "have", providing a more direct statement.

what had been done

Emphasizes the completion of an action before a specific point in the past, using the past perfect tense.

what I have accomplished

Highlights achievements or completed tasks from the speaker's perspective using "accomplished" instead of "done".

what I should have accomplished

Conveys regret or reflection on missed achievements, using "accomplished" instead of "done".

the things that were done

Shifts the focus to a plural form, emphasizing multiple actions or tasks that were completed.

all that has been done

Highlights the totality of completed actions, suitable for summarizing progress or achievements.

the things I've managed to do

Expresses accomplishment with a sense of effort or overcoming challenges, using "managed" to convey difficulty.

what has already transpired

Uses more formal language to refer to events that have already occurred, emphasizing a sense of finality.

the actions that took place

Focuses on the occurrence of specific actions without emphasizing completion or achievement.

the deeds that were performed

Employs elevated language to refer to actions, suitable for formal or historical contexts.

FAQs

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

To correctly use "have done", ensure it follows a subject and auxiliary verb. For example, "I "have done" my homework" is grammatically correct.

What are some grammatically correct alternatives to "have done was"?

Instead of "have done was", you can use alternatives like "what was done", "what has been done", or "what I "did"" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Is it ever correct to use the phrase "have done was"?

No, the phrase "have done was" is grammatically incorrect because it combines the auxiliary verb "have" with the past tense "was" inappropriately. It's best to avoid this phrase in writing and speech.

What's the difference between "what I have done" and "what I "have done was""?

"What I have done" is a grammatically correct phrase indicating actions completed by the speaker. "What I have done was" is incorrect; instead, consider rephrasing it to something like "What I have done is complete".