having looked

USAGE SUMMARY

"having looked" is a valid phrase to use in written English.
It can be used to express the idea of something that happened before the current moment in the narrative. For example: "Having looked around the store, I decided to purchase the item."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Having looked at his picture, I do not recognise him.

The Guardian

Having looked exhausted as he dropped two straight sets, Djokovic won a forty-four-shot rally.

The New Yorker

But having looked out on them for so many weeks, the Ringers won't ever forget theirs.

Independent

"Having looked into these claims, we are satisfied that they are within the rules," they said.

Independent

That's good if, having looked, you stay to reflect on the lives that the objects complemented.

The New Yorker

Having looked up "uterus" on translate.google.com™, they said, "Isn't the uterus a good thing?

The New York Times

He described having looked up and seeing his co-worker hanging by his harness above him.

The New York Times

Having looked at hundreds of billions of dollars in gold, you'll probably be ready to eat.

The New York Times

Having looked at online images of Chris Pine, my money's on Hardy to win.

The Guardian - Film

"Having looked at it pretty comprehensively, we believe the accounting can and should be improved".

The New York Times

"And, unfortunately, this ruling comes without the judge having looked at a single ballot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having looked", ensure that the subject performing the action is clearly identified and consistent throughout the sentence to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid placing "having looked" in a way that it modifies the wrong subject. Ensure the phrase is close to the noun or pronoun performing the action to prevent unintended or humorous interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having looked" functions as a perfect gerund phrase, indicating an action completed before the main verb's action. This grammatical form shows a temporal relationship, clarifying that the looking or examining occurred prior to the subsequent action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having looked" is a versatile perfect gerund phrase effectively used to establish temporal relationships between actions, indicating that an observation or examination preceded a subsequent event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across a variety of contexts. While suitable for news, formal, and professional settings, it's less common in casual conversation. When employing this phrase, ensure correct subject-verb agreement and avoid misplaced modifiers to maintain clarity and precision in your writing. Alternatives like "after looking" or "upon inspection" may be suitable depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after looking

This alternative is a more common and straightforward way to express the same temporal sequence of events.

once having looked

Adding "once" emphasizes the completion of the action before the subsequent action takes place.

upon inspection

This phrase implies a more formal or official examination.

following a review

This suggests a more structured and thorough examination.

after examination

This alternative conveys a more formal or detailed investigation.

on closer inspection

This phrase suggests a more detailed and careful examination.

with examination

This alternative implies that the examination led to the current state or understanding.

subsequent to viewing

This alternative uses more formal language to indicate that something was seen beforehand.

with scrutiny

This phrase implies a thorough and critical examination.

given the observation

This suggests that something was observed and is now being considered.

FAQs

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

You can use "having looked" to show that an action of looking occurred before another. For example, "Having looked at the data, we made our decision."

What are some alternatives to "having looked"?

Alternatives include "after looking", "upon inspection", or "following a review", depending on the context.

Is "having looked" formal or informal?

"Having looked" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal, suitable for both news and professional writing. It is less common in very informal contexts.

What's the difference between "having looked" and "after looking"?

"Having looked" emphasizes the completion of the action before the next action, while "after looking" simply indicates the sequence of events without the same emphasis on completion.