have misplaced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have misplaced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something has been lost or cannot be found, typically referring to a temporary situation. Example: "I seem to have misplaced my keys again; I need to search the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

What happens when you have misplaced your iPhone or Android?

The New York Times

For the moment, he seems to have misplaced them.

The New York Times

Mr Grayling must have misplaced my telephone number.

The Guardian

It's also one the Mets have misplaced this year.

The New York Times - Sports

It was the quality he had seemed to have misplaced over the summer.

Independent

In that respect, I think Sam Jones and Jim Martin have misplaced expectations.

Harvard Business Review

Thanks to my total recall failure, I have misplaced birthdays and deleted entire school years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Well, she may have misplaced it, but that wouldn't be such a good story.

The Guardian - Sport

The Illinois players did not lose their heads, while Seton Hall's may have misplaced theirs.

The New York Times - Sports

Weinstein said library staff members appeared to have misplaced it but believed they were able to reconstruct its contents.

The Washington Post

Cindy claimed to have misplaced receipts that supposedly showed that the McCains had reimbursed Keating for these trips.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have misplaced" when you believe the item is likely to be found soon. It suggests a temporary loss rather than a permanent one.

Common error

Avoid using "have misplaced" if the item is permanently lost or stolen. "Have lost" is more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have misplaced" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating a completed action with present relevance. The verb 'have' serves as an auxiliary, while 'misplaced' is the past participle. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science & Research

6%

HuffPost

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have misplaced" is a grammatically sound and versatile way to indicate a temporary loss or inability to find something. As noted by Ludwig AI, its usage is considered correct. It commonly appears in news articles, general writing and across different contexts, suggesting a degree of temporary loss. When using this phrase, consider whether the item is truly just temporarily lost or permanently gone, in which case "have lost" might be more appropriate. Always ensure your word choice reflects the intended meaning to maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have lost

Indicates a permanent or temporary loss, similar to "have misplaced" but without implying it might be found.

have mislaid

A direct synonym for "have misplaced", suggesting a temporary loss due to carelessness.

have temporarily lost

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the loss, aligning closely with the nuance of "have misplaced".

cannot find

A more general way to express the inability to locate something.

seem to have lost

Adds a degree of uncertainty or surprise to the loss.

can't seem to find

Implies a difficulty in finding something, often suggesting a search is ongoing.

are unable to locate

A formal way of saying something cannot be found, implying a search has occurred.

have forgotten where I put

Highlights the act of forgetting as the reason for not being able to find something.

cannot recall the location of

A formal way to state that one does not remember where something is.

have no idea where it is

Indicates complete uncertainty about the location of something.

FAQs

How do I use "have misplaced" in a sentence?

You can use "have misplaced" to indicate that you've temporarily lost something. For example: "I seem to "have misplaced" my keys; I need to retrace my steps."

What can I say instead of "have misplaced"?

You can use alternatives like "have lost", "have mislaid", or "cannot find" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have misplaced" or "have lost"?

"Have misplaced" suggests a temporary loss, while "have lost" implies the item is permanently gone or its whereabouts are unknown. The correct choice depends on the situation.

What's the difference between "have misplaced" and "have forgotten where I put it"?

"Have misplaced" is a general statement indicating the item's location is currently unknown. "Have forgotten where I put it" specifically implies that the loss is due to a lapse in memory regarding its placement.