have him do

USAGE SUMMARY

'have him do' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are ordering or requesting someone to do something. For example, "Have him do the presentation for the board meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Germaine's teammates intend to have him do just that.

The New York Times - Sports

"I would rather have him do it and have the play be great.

The New Yorker

We have him do a ton of that for his hips.

The New York Times - Sports

He can't smell it, and I'm reluctant to have him do the job over.

The Washington Post

He doesn't scream or freak out, as a movie would have him do.

The Guardian - Books

"It was so important for her to have him do this," said one of her advisers.

The New York Times

What would you have him do, if you were his climate-change advisor?

The New Yorker

"Give me a college professor, I'll have him do things you can't believe.

The New York Times

I'd probably have him do some version of what he does.

The New York Times - Magazine

You can take him to the game on Sunday and have him do more than return kicks".

The New York Times - Sports

It's the easiest leap to have him do that here, yet it's so powerful and so unexpected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have him do", ensure clarity about who is responsible for the action. This construction is most effective when the context makes it clear who 'him' refers to and what the expected outcome is.

Common error

Avoid using "have him do" when the referent of 'him' is unclear or distant in the text. This can lead to confusion. Instead, rephrase to directly name the person or clarify the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have him do" functions as a causative construction, indicating that someone is being instructed or allowed to perform an action. Ludwig shows many examples where this construction is used to assign tasks or make arrangements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have him do" is a versatile and frequently used causative construction to delegate tasks or instruct someone to perform an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and applicable across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, ensure that the referent of 'him' is clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternatives like "get him to do" or "ask him to do" depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get him to do

Emphasizes persuasion or inducement.

make him do

Implies compulsion or authority.

ask him to do

Suggests a polite request.

request that he do

A more formal way of asking.

task him with doing

Highlights the assignment of a responsibility.

assign him to do

Similar to task, but slightly less formal.

charge him with doing

Implies entrusting someone with a duty.

have him perform

Focuses on the action being executed.

arrange for him to do

Suggests planning and preparation.

delegate the task to him

Formally transfers responsibility.

FAQs

How do you use "have him do" in a sentence?

The phrase "have him do" is used to instruct or arrange for someone to perform an action. For instance, "I'll have him do the repairs tomorrow" means you will arrange for him to perform the repairs.

What's a more formal alternative to "have him do"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "request that he do", "task him with doing", or "assign him to do". These phrases convey a similar meaning but are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What can I say instead of "have him do" to imply persuasion?

If you want to emphasize persuasion, consider using "get him to do". This suggests that some convincing might be involved.

Is "have him do" grammatically correct?

Yes, "have him do" is grammatically correct. It follows the structure of a causative verb, where 'have' causes 'him' to perform the action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in various contexts.