having waited

USAGE SUMMARY

"having waited" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that happened before the present moment, or before the main action of the sentence. For example: "Having waited for what seemed like hours, I finally heard the sound of the train in the distance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They said they were excited, having waited so long.

The New York Times

Having waited so long to handle this, the truth may be your only option here.

The New York Times

But some eventually left after having waited five hours for their urgent ill health.

Independent

In Britain, Ms. May was ridiculed for not having waited just a few hours longer.

The New York Times

Having waited seventeen years to mate, Mr. Magicicada has his work cut out for him.

The New Yorker

Having waited a lifetime, it is still yet to be born.

Independent

Having waited seven years to get a permanent full-time A.T.F.

The New York Times

Having waited for his moment, Vanendert timed his attack well with four miles left.

The New York Times - Sports

After the storm hit, President Bush drew heavy criticism as having waited too long before visiting.

The New York Times

A few expressed remorse for having waited too long to begin their hunt for a father.

The Guardian

Then, having waited patiently for revenge - as she always does, Mother saw her chance.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having waited" to clearly establish a sequence of events where the waiting action precedes and influences the main action of the sentence. This helps to avoid ambiguity and improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid placing "having waited" too far from the subject it modifies; doing so can lead to confusion about who or what did the waiting. Keep it close to the noun or pronoun it's describing for clarity.

Linguistic Context

Having waited functions as a participial phrase, specifically a perfect gerund phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, providing additional information about a prior action or state. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically sound, as demonstrated in numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having waited" is a grammatically sound and frequently used perfect gerund phrase that functions to establish a clear temporal relationship between a prior action (waiting) and a subsequent action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, often employed to provide context and background information. When using this phrase, be mindful of its placement to avoid ambiguity, and consider semantically similar phrases like "after waiting" or "once having waited" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after waiting

This phrase directly replaces "having waited" with a simpler temporal clause.

once having waited

Adds emphasis on the completion of the waiting period before the subsequent action.

subsequent to waiting

A more formal way to indicate that the waiting period preceded another event.

following a period of waiting

Highlights the duration of the waiting time before the next action.

after biding one's time

Implies patiently waiting for an opportune moment.

with patience exhausted

Emphasizes the end of a waiting period, often indicating frustration or action taken.

upon conclusion of the waiting period

A formal way to state that something occurs immediately after waiting.

now that the wait is over

Highlights the relief or anticipation after the waiting period.

in the aftermath of waiting

Focuses on the consequences or events that occur after the waiting.

the waiting being done

A more concise way to express that the action of waiting has finished.

FAQs

How do I use "having waited" in a sentence?

Use "having waited" to show that an action was completed before another action took place. For example, "Having waited for hours, they finally decided to leave" indicates the waiting occurred before the decision to leave.

What are some alternatives to "having waited"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "after waiting", "once having waited", or "subsequent to waiting".

Is it correct to say "having waited" or should I use a different tense?

The phrase "having waited" is grammatically correct and uses the perfect gerund. It's suitable when you need to emphasize that one action was completed before another.

What's the difference between "having waited" and "after waiting"?

"Having waited" emphasizes the completion of the waiting period before the subsequent action, while "after waiting" simply indicates that the waiting occurred before, without necessarily emphasizing its completion.