having

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'having' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation that occurred in the past. For example: "Having forgotten to pay the bill, I was unable to use my phone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Having fun?

The New York Times

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

The future of the show's other two presenters - Hammond and May - is unclear, with both men's Top Gear contracts having run out.

The Guardian

Close observers of his military say Syria is having trouble keeping its sophisticated and maintenance-intensive weapons functioning.

The New York Times

Are you having fun?

The Guardian - Sport

He was already on a life sentence for having killed his girlfriend, Myra Wright.

The Guardian

"Australia had signed up to a commitment to actually having 0.7% of gross national income as a target by 2016.

The Guardian

"What is the point of having that strong relationship if you can't use it to move them to a position which is in their interests and our interests?" she said.

The Guardian

"This was essential work but passengers need to be able to plan and rely on Network Rail meeting its deadlines for having the network back in service.

The Guardian - Business

Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother is the favourite for best foreign film, having cleaned up on the festival circuit and won a Golden Globe to boot.

The Guardian - Film

I wish we were having the election at the end of the debate, not instead of the debate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having" to connect a completed action with a subsequent event, creating a concise and logical flow in your writing. For example, "Having finished the report, she went home."

Common error

Avoid placing "having" phrases too far from the noun or pronoun they modify, as this can create ambiguity. For example, instead of "Having eaten dinner, the movie was enjoyable", write "Having eaten dinner, we found the movie enjoyable".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "having" is to form present participial phrases that modify nouns or pronouns, indicating a completed action or state preceding another action. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it connects events sequentially.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having" is a versatile word predominantly used to create participial phrases that establish temporal relationships between actions or states. It’s grammatically correct and very common in written English, particularly in news, media, formal and business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the correct use of the word in various example sentences. To ensure clarity, avoid misplaced modifiers and clearly define the noun or pronoun being modified by the "having" phrase. Consider alternatives like "possessing" or "experiencing" for subtle shifts in meaning to fine-tune your writing. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "having" to enhance the flow and precision of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possessing

Focuses more on the state of ownership.

experiencing

Emphasizes undergoing or feeling something.

being in possession of

A more formal way to express ownership.

undergoing

Highlights the process of enduring something.

going through

Emphasizes the process of experiencing something, often difficult.

holding

Suggests physical possession or control.

being subject to

Highlights the state of being affected by something.

containing

Indicates that something includes or consists of something else.

enduring

Focuses on the act of tolerating or surviving something difficult.

carrying

Implies bearing or supporting something.

FAQs

How can I use "having" in a sentence?

"Having" is often used to create participial phrases that indicate a completed action before another action takes place. For example, "Having studied hard, she passed the exam." You can also use it to indicate possession: "I am having a good time."

What can I say instead of "having"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "possessing", "experiencing", or "undergoing". For example, instead of "having trouble", you might say "experiencing difficulty".

Is it correct to start a sentence with "having"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "having" when using it in a participial phrase. For instance, "Having completed the project, the team celebrated their success."

What's the difference between "having" and "having had"?

"Having" generally refers to an action completed before another action in the past. "Having had" indicates an action completed even earlier in the past, before another past action described with "having". For example, "Having finished the report, she went home", versus "Having had dinner, and then finished the report, she went home".