have turned up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have turned up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has appeared, been found, or arrived unexpectedly or after a search. Example: "After searching for hours, the missing keys have finally turned up in the couch cushions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have turned up next to nothing.

Yale University

Eight have turned up dead.

The Guardian

A decade ago many thousands would have turned up.

The Economist

Elsewhere, related artifacts have turned up.

The New York Times - Arts

But all leads have turned up empty.

The New York Times

Some copies have turned up around town.

The Washington Post

Well, the Olympics have turned up.

The Guardian - Sport

Will the burrito van have turned up?

The Guardian - Music

Other scholars have turned up similar findings.

The New Yorker

So far, investigators have turned up little.

The New Yorker

But they have turned up again and again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have turned up" to indicate something that was lost or hidden has been found or has unexpectedly appeared. It's particularly effective when emphasizing the element of surprise or unexpectedness.

Common error

Ensure the auxiliary verb "have" is correctly conjugated based on the subject. A common mistake is using "has turned up" when the subject is plural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have turned up" functions as a perfect tense verb phrase, indicating that an action of appearing or being discovered has been completed at some point in the past. Ludwig shows numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have turned up" is a versatile and commonly used phrase indicating that something has been discovered, appeared, or arrived, often unexpectedly. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for a variety of contexts, though more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "have emerged" or "have materialized". With a strong presence in news, science, and academic writing, mastering its use will enhance clarity and impact your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have emerged

Focuses on the act of something becoming known or apparent.

have surfaced

Implies something previously hidden has come to light.

have appeared

A general term for something becoming visible or present.

have materialized

Suggests something has taken a physical form or become real.

have arisen

Indicates something has come into existence or has started to happen.

have been discovered

Emphasizes the act of finding something previously unknown or hidden.

have been found

A simple and direct alternative for locating something.

have shown up

Focuses on the act of arriving at a particular place or event.

have come to light

Implies that information or facts have been revealed.

have presented themselves

Highlights the act of something becoming available or noticeable.

FAQs

How can I use "have turned up" in a sentence?

You can use "have turned up" to indicate that something missing has been found, or that someone has unexpectedly arrived. For example: "The missing documents "have turned up" in the archive room".

What's the difference between "have turned up" and "have appeared"?

"Have turned up" often implies an element of surprise or unexpectedness, suggesting the item was lost or hidden. "Have appeared" is a more general term for something becoming visible or present without necessarily implying it was previously missing.

What can I say instead of "have turned up"?

Alternatives to "have turned up" include "have emerged", "have surfaced", or "have been discovered" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "have turned up" formal or informal?

"Have turned up" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, alternatives like "have emerged" or "have materialized" might be preferred.