having surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

"having surgery" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to having an operation to repair, cure, or treat an illness or injury, or when talking about someone else who is having an operation. For example: "After months of suffering with chronic back pain, Mary finally decided to go ahead with having surgery to alleviate the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was having surgery on Wednesday.

The New York Times

On Tuesday, Mutombo protested having surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

The alternative – not having surgery – was worse.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

So I'm not big on having surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

No parent welcomes the idea of a child having surgery.

Columbia University

He recently returned home after having surgery in California.

The New York Times

Participants: Eighteen patients having surgery under general anesthesia.

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

Griffin appeared to become emotional when he recalled having surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite having surgery, he died three days later.

Independent

"Long story short, I ended up having surgery in September.

The New York Times - Sports

He later wrote that the experience was like having surgery for cataracts.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing medical procedures, use "having surgery" to refer to the experience from the patient's perspective. It's a clear and common way to describe undergoing an operation.

Common error

Avoid using "surgery" alone when the context is unclear. Saying someone "had surgery" might leave the listener wondering about the type and location of the operation. Be specific when necessary: "having knee surgery" or "having heart surgery."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having surgery" functions as a gerund phrase, where "having" is a gerund (a verb acting as a noun) and "surgery" is its object. It typically acts as a noun within a sentence, describing an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability and correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having surgery" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase for describing the experience of undergoing a surgical procedure. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears frequently in news and media, as well as academic and scientific contexts. While "having surgery" is generally neutral in register, it's important to be specific about the type of surgery when clarity is needed. Consider alternatives like "undergoing an operation" or "receiving surgical treatment" depending on the desired level of formality. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately use "having surgery" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undergoing an operation

Focuses on the process of the surgery rather than the action of "having" it.

getting surgery

More informal and focuses on the act of receiving the surgical procedure.

being operated on

Passive voice, focusing on the patient as the recipient of the surgical action.

scheduled for surgery

Emphasizes the planning aspect and the future occurrence of the surgery.

receiving surgical treatment

A more formal way to describe undergoing surgery, emphasizing the treatment aspect.

preparing for an operation

Highlights the preparatory actions leading up to the surgery.

to be operated on

Expresses future intent, similar to "scheduled for surgery", but shorter.

surgery is planned

Emphasis is on the scheduling and plan, but it's impersonal.

surgical intervention

Focuses on surgery as a medical intervention.

going under the knife

An idiomatic and informal way of saying having surgery.

FAQs

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

You can use "having surgery" to describe someone's experience of undergoing a surgical procedure. For example: "She is "scheduled for surgery" next week" or "He is recovering well after "having surgery" on his shoulder".

What are some alternatives to "having surgery"?

Alternatives include "undergoing an operation", "getting surgery" (more informal), or "receiving surgical treatment" (more formal). The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "having surgery" or "undergoing surgery"?

Both "having surgery" and "undergoing surgery" are grammatically correct and widely accepted. "Having surgery" might be perceived as slightly more common in everyday conversation, while "undergoing surgery" can sound a bit more formal.

What does it mean when someone says they are "having surgery"?

When someone says they are "having surgery", it means they are going to "undergo a surgical procedure" performed by a medical professional, usually to treat a health condition or injury.