he obtained it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he obtained it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone acquiring or receiving something, whether it be a physical object, information, or a skill. Example: "After months of hard work, he obtained it, the certification he had been striving for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Dr. Postol said he obtained it from a Pentagon source he would not identify.

The New York Times

On Friday, revelations that police may have missed a chance to seize the gun Duggan subsequently acquired, days before he obtained it, led to raised tensions.

The Guardian

Dana, at least, is willing to believe that it is – her father's story of how he obtained it is plausible, and she sees no harm in believing it.

The Guardian - Books

Grant said police prosecutors had become aware of the footage nine months ago when he obtained it, but the officer faced no scrutiny over the matter before quitting several months later.

The Guardian

With encouragement from various art dealers and historians, I decided to dig deeper into the story — especially into Murdock's art collection and how he obtained it, since I knew he never had much money.

The New Yorker

Harrison did not elaborate on how often he took the banned substance or how he obtained it, although he said repeatedly that his teammates were not involved and that he acted alone.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

But the blogger who used it already can continue using the image, because he or she obtained it when the CC license was intact.

WikiHow

Using a fake Yemeni passport -- his lawyer said he had obtained it because he had lost his Algerian passport -- he arrived in Bosnia in November 1995.

The New York Times

When he was unable to collect a specimen for himself, he often obtained it from a supply house known as Lattin's, or by trading with other collectors.

Wikipedia

He introduced this result without offering any explanation of how he had obtained it.

Wikipedia

He brought the chicken home to his wife, and told her how he had obtained it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he obtained it" when you want to express that someone came into possession of something, whether it's tangible or intangible, through effort or circumstance.

Common error

Avoid using "he obtained it" in very casual conversations. Opt for alternatives like "he got it" or "he found it" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he obtained it" functions as a statement indicating that a male person has successfully acquired or gained possession of something. Ludwig confirms this is a correct English phrase, with examples spanning various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

18%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he obtained it" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate that a male person acquired something. Ludwig AI analysis shows that this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Wiki, and Encyclopedic contexts, maintaining a neutral register. When opting to use "he obtained it", remember that it implies a level of formality above the everyday "he got it", but below phrases such as "he came into possession of it". Always select a vocabulary that accurately reflect the context and the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he acquired it

Replaces "obtained" with a synonym, "acquired", maintaining a formal tone.

he received it

Substitutes "obtained" with "received", indicating a passive reception.

he got it

Uses a more informal verb, "got", to convey the same meaning.

he secured it

Suggests effort and success in acquiring something.

he took ownership of it

Highlights the act of gaining ownership, suitable when referring to property or rights.

he was given it

Replaces "obtained" with "was given", indicating something was gifted or provided to someone.

he came into possession of it

Emphasizes the act of gaining possession in a more formal and elaborate way.

it was granted to him

Indicates that something was officially given or allowed to him.

he laid his hands on it

Implies a more physical or opportunistic acquisition.

he picked it up

Uses a colloquial term for acquiring or learning something, or physically picking up something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he obtained it" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use phrases like "he acquired it" or "he came into possession of it", which convey a similar meaning with a heightened level of formality.

What's a more casual way to say "he obtained it"?

For a more casual tone, you can say "he got it" or "he picked it up", which are more relaxed and conversational.

Is there a difference between "he obtained it" and "he received it"?

While both phrases indicate someone came into possession of something, "he obtained it" often implies some effort or action was involved in acquiring it, whereas "he received it" suggests it was given to him without specific effort on his part.

When is it appropriate to use "he obtained it"?

"He obtained it" is appropriate in situations where you want to convey the idea that someone acquired something through a process or by meeting certain conditions. It is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts.