having experience

USAGE SUMMARY

"having experience" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to a person's past involvement in a particular activity or skill. For example, "Having experience in software development, she was able to quickly understand the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Second was having experience in diplomacy.

The New York Times

I think it's about having experience to contribute.

The New York Times

"It's a case of having experience at it.

The New York Times - Sports

Having experience of two fields also enables you to carve out a niche in your career.

The Guardian

Having experience in the private sector (defined above as any non-politics/government job).

The Washington Post

Without having experience in creative writing, it's a very excruciating process.

Cornell University

Having experience in sewing -- she designed costumes for high school plays -- she decided to make her own handbags.

The New York Times

Morton-Hedges agrees that having experience of successfully using your skills will grow your confidence when job hunting.

The Guardian

Unlike Trump, most of our chief executives came to the job after having experience holding other public office.

The New York Times

MIT has a very strong conviction regarding the importance of undergraduates having experience in research," he said.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Moreover, the exemplars have been evaluated by conducting focus group sessions with experienced practitioners having experience of using and developing e-learning.

Computers & Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the specific type of experience, follow "having experience" with a prepositional phrase like "in," "with," or "of" (e.g., "having experience in project management").

Common error

Avoid using the wrong preposition after "having experience". For example, instead of saying "having experience on project management", use "having experience in project management".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having experience" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, often followed by a prepositional phrase to specify the area of experience. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

48%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having experience" is a grammatically correct and very common gerund phrase used to denote prior involvement and expertise. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure correct preposition usage (e.g., "having experience in") to avoid common errors. Consider related phrases like "possessing expertise" or "being skilled in" for nuanced alternatives. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse professional and informal communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possessing expertise

Emphasizes a high level of skill or knowledge.

being skilled in

Highlights the ability to perform something well.

being practiced in

Focuses on repeated performance and skill development.

with a background in

Focuses on past training and knowledge.

familiar with

Implies a general awareness and understanding.

knowledgeable about

Stresses the possession of information.

with prior exposure to

Highlights that someone has seen a certain thing before.

versed in

Suggests a thorough knowledge and skill.

acquainted with

Indicates a casual or superficial knowledge.

having a history of

Highlights past involvement or events.

FAQs

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

You can use "having experience" to highlight someone's background or expertise in a particular area, for example, "having experience in marketing" or "having experience with children".

What are some alternatives to "having experience"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "possessing expertise", "being skilled in", or "familiar with depending on the nuance you want to convey".

Is it better to say "having experience" or "having experiences"?

"Having experience" is generally used when referring to expertise or skill in a specific area. "Having experiences" is used when referring to a collection of events or encounters. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing expertise or a variety of encounters.

What's the difference between "having experience" and "being experienced"?

"Having experience" focuses on the act of possessing experience, while "being experienced" describes the state of being knowledgeable and skilled due to that experience. For instance, "having experience in a field can lead to "being experienced" and competent".