having contained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having contained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been included or held within something else, often in a past context. Example: "The box, having contained various artifacts, was of great historical significance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The atmosphere of early Mars also shows signs of having contained oxygen, enabling molybdate to form.

The New York Times - Science

Consulting an enormous family tree, Mr. Bulkeley identified it as having contained the body of a toddler, Jerusha Bulkeley, Gershom's great-granddaughter.

The New York Times

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Mr. Prado was caught lying during questioning at the airport and that his cellphone, which he denied having, contained a telephone number of a Palestinian who Israel considered to be a member of a terrorist group.

The New York Times

Interpretation of this groove as having contained the optic nerve has been confirmed by a single complex fossil, a complete skull and braincase with both eye capsules and the rostral capsule in place, showing this "optic fissure" as a transverse slit passing right across the skull between the eye sockets (Fig. 4c).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Naturally, when the U.S. "won" the Cold War, the Air Force took much of the credit for having contained the Soviet bear behind a thermonuclear-charged fence.

Huffington Post

A 1994 landscape survey identified woodland to the north of the village as having contained ancient flint tools and what appeared to be flint boundary markers, the latter apparently gathered from loose-lying surface flints.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Stomachs of pickerel have contained birds.

The New Yorker

They thought they had contained him.

The New York Times - Sports

Chemotherapy had contained things for now.

The New York Times

So far, Blair and his advisers have contained any embarrassment.

The Guardian

Emergency services are on site and have contained the situation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having contained", ensure the context clearly indicates the past state and the reason for its relevance to the current discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "having contained" when a simpler past tense like "contained" would suffice. Overusing gerund phrases can make writing sound overly formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having contained" functions as a past participle phrase, often acting as an adjective modifying a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure denotes a completed action that provides context for the noun it modifies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having contained" is a grammatically sound past participle phrase used to describe a prior state of inclusion or holding. As Ludwig AI has confirmed, while correct, it is relatively uncommon, appearing mainly in News & Media and Scientific contexts. It serves to provide background information or context, emphasizing a completed action in the past. When writing, remember that simpler tenses might be more appropriate in many scenarios to avoid sounding overly formal. Alternatives like "previously included" or "formerly held" can also be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly held

Emphasizes the past action of holding something.

previously included

Focuses on the act of including something at an earlier time.

previously encompassed

Similar to "previously included" but emphasizes a broader scope.

once comprised

Highlights that something was made up of certain elements in the past.

formally comprised of

Highlights that something was formally made up of something.

used to include

Indicates a habitual past inclusion.

had within it

Rephrases the idea of something being inside another thing in the past.

that once held

Focuses on the act of holding from a relative perspective.

which previously encompassed

Highlights the former scope or coverage of something.

that used to contain

Indicates a past habitual state of containing.

FAQs

How can I use "having contained" in a sentence?

Use "having contained" to describe something that previously held or included something else, like, "The box, "having contained" valuable artifacts, was carefully stored."

What are some alternatives to "having contained"?

You can use alternatives like "previously included", "formerly held", or "once comprised" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to use "having contained", or can I use a simpler tense?

In many cases, a simpler past tense like "contained" is sufficient. Use "having contained" when you want to emphasize that the containing action occurred before another action or state.

What is the difference between "having contained" and "containing"?

"Having contained" implies a completed action in the past, whereas "containing" describes a current state or ongoing action.