having found

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'having found' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate an event that happened prior to the time being discussed. For example: Having found his keys, he was able to lock the house before leaving.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Having found The Cedar, we go inside.

Independent

Having found this curious shortening effect.

MIT Technology Review

He congratulated her upon having found such a fine place.

The New Yorker

Having found his hero, Mr. Henze brought him to life.

The New York Times - Arts

Lebedinsky reports having found Shostakovich suicidal after finishing it.

The New Yorker

Having found history, I was ready for the beach.

The New York Times - Travel

Having found the benighted family, she watched, waited and listened.

The Guardian - Film

Nearly every girl left smiling, having found a dress.

The New York Times

Having found his trade, Mr. Fellig never left it.

The New York Times

For me, having found B.D.S.M., it's not just about sex.

The New York Times

I'm definitely a better person for having found God.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having found" to clearly establish the completion of the finding action before describing a subsequent event or state. For example: Having found a suitable location, they began construction.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by placing "having found" close to the subject that performed the finding action. Incorrect: Having found near the river, the explorers set up camp. Correct: Having found a spot near the river, the explorers set up camp.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having found" functions as a perfect gerund phrase, indicating an action completed before the main verb's action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usability. Examples show it introduces circumstances or reasons based on a prior discovery.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "having found" serves as a perfect gerund, effectively indicating an action completed before the main verb's action. Ludwig AI confirms that it is indeed grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts. It's particularly useful for establishing prior conditions and providing context, especially in formal writing like news articles and academic papers. While versatile, writers should be mindful of placement to avoid misplaced modifiers. Alternatives like "after discovering" or "upon finding" can offer simpler alternatives, but "having found" adds a subtle emphasis on completion. Remember to place it close to the subject and use it to introduce reasons or circumstances that follow from a prior discovery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after discovering

Focuses on the act of discovery as a preceding event, similar to "having found".

upon finding

Highlights the immediacy of the discovery, suggesting it leads directly to a subsequent action.

once locating

Emphasizes the process of pinpointing or identifying something before moving forward.

with the discovery of

Shifts the focus to the discovery itself, treating it as a noun rather than a verb.

subsequent to finding

Formal and emphasizes the chronological order of events with 'finding' taking place before the main action.

on account of locating

Highlights the reason or cause is due to locating.

because of the discovery

Focuses on the cause and effect relationship, emphasizing that the action is a result of finding something.

as a result of locating

Similar to "because of the discovery", but emphasizes the outcome or consequence of the act of locating.

since discovering

Implies a passage of time since the discovery, with the subsequent action still relevant.

acquiring discovery of

Highlights how discovery has been acquired in the context of the sentence.

FAQs

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

Use "having found" to indicate that the action of finding something occurred before the main action in the sentence. Example: "Having found" /s/the+missing+piece, he completed the puzzle.

What phrases are similar to "having found"?

Similar phrases include "after discovering", "upon finding", or "once locating". Choose the alternative that best fits the context and flow of your sentence.

Is it always necessary to use "having found", or can I use a simpler construction?

While "having found" is grammatically correct, simpler constructions like "after finding" or "once he found" might be more concise and easier to read, depending on the context.

What is the difference between "having found" and "after finding"?

"Having found" emphasizes the completion of the action before the next event, whereas "after finding" simply indicates a sequence of events without necessarily stressing the completion aspect.