have quit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have quit" is an acceptable phrase for written English.
It is often used to describe a situation in which a person has finished a task or made a decision to end a particular activity. For example, "I have quit smoking cigarettes for over a year now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Staff members have quit.

The New York Times

Should Hague have quit?

The Guardian

He should have quit.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some have quit already.

The Guardian

Dozens of good bankers have quit.

The Economist

Maybe Massimo Moratti should have quit then.

The New York Times - Sports

Some have quit the site in protest.

The Economist

He probably should have quit, really.

The New York Times

Key officers, including generals, have quit.

The New York Times

Many have quit the profession.

The Washington Post

Very few employees have quit.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In modern English, "quit" is the preferred past participle for both US and UK standards. While "quitted" exists, it is largely considered archaic in professional writing.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past "quit" when a time relationship with the present is intended. While "I quit yesterday" is correct for a specific past time, "I have quit" is necessary when describing a current state resulting from a past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have quit" functions as a present perfect verb phrase. It combines the auxiliary verb "have" with the past participle "quit". As noted in Ludwig, this structure is used to link a past action (the act of quitting) to the present situation (the person is currently no longer involved).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "have quit" is a highly reliable and grammatically correct phrase in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse and prestigious domains, including The New York Times and The Guardian. It effectively communicates the completion of a departure or cessation with present-day relevance. While synonyms like "have resigned" offer more formality, "have quit" remains the standard choice for clear and direct communication in both journalism and business.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have resigned

Provides a more formal and professional tone specifically for employment contexts

have stepped down

Commonly used in news media to describe high-level officials leaving a post

have stopped

A more general term that applies to actions or habits rather than just positions

have ceased

Much more formal and often used in legal, scientific or technical writing

have walked away

Informal and emphasizes the choice to no longer be involved in a situation

have given up

An idiomatic alternative often used for habits or difficult tasks

have withdrawn

Used when referring to removal from a competition, a group or a political race

have departed

Focuses on the act of leaving a physical location or an organization

have abandoned

Implies leaving something behind abruptly or completely, often with a negative connotation

have terminated

Extremely formal and implies an official or contractual end to an activity

FAQs

Is it correct to say "have quit"?

Yes, "have quit" is a perfectly correct present perfect construction. According to Ludwig, it is used frequently in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist to describe someone leaving a job or stopping a habit.

What is the difference between "have quit" and "have resigned"?

While both mean leaving a position, "have resigned" is more formal and typically limited to employment. "have quit" can be used for jobs, habits, or activities and has a slightly more direct tone.

Should I use "have quit" or "have quitted"?

You should almost always use "have quit". Although "have quitted" is technically a variant, it is rarely seen in contemporary journalism or academic writing.

How do I use "have quit" in a professional email?

In a professional setting, you might say "Several team members have quit recently" or use a more formal alternative like "have decided to leave" if the context requires a softer tone.