manage to have

USAGE SUMMARY

"manage to have" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that somebody has been successful at obtaining something, even if it was difficult. For example: "She managed to have her loan approved, despite her poor credit score."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We even manage to have a quite comfortable silence".

The Guardian - Books

"I did manage to have a bit of small talk with Paxman.

Independent

After all, we manage to have housing markets even without a good model of land prices.

The Economist

"Doctors who work 80 hours a week manage to have children," Father Newman says.

The New York Times

And yet the Swiss, without such encouragement, manage to have a high household saving rate.

The New York Times

But when we manage to have a national conversation about education, homework is a red herring.

The New York Times

"Maybe we couldn't manage to have the last image in an earthly paradise," Mr. Munz said.

The New York Times

Will he manage to have the happy married life he aspires to?

The New Yorker

All these people manage to have clothes like that because they have servants.

The Guardian - Books

But within the rules scientists still manage to have some fun.

The New York Times - Books

Independently, we did manage to have lunch in Helsinki and wander through its lively waterfront market.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "manage to have" to emphasize successful attainment despite potential difficulties. It adds a nuance of effort and overcoming obstacles to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "manage to have" when a simpler verb like "have" or "get" suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or strained in situations where the effort wasn't significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "manage to have" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the successful achievement of a goal or the attainment of something, often implying effort or overcoming obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of numerous examples where the phrase is used to denote accomplishment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "manage to have" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verbal phrase that signifies the successful attainment or possession of something, often implying effort or overcoming obstacles. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and widespread usage. It is commonly found in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral register. While "manage to have" is generally acceptable, it's important to avoid overuse in simple scenarios where a simpler verb like "have" or "get" would suffice. Consider alternatives such as "succeed in having", "be able to have", or "arrange to have" to vary your writing. Remember to emphasize the effort involved when using "manage to have" to effectively convey its intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

succeed in having

Focuses more on the success aspect of achieving something, rather than the effort involved.

find a way to have

Highlights the process of discovering a method to achieve something.

be able to have

Indicates the capacity or ability to possess something.

be successful in acquiring

Focuses on the positive outcome of getting something, typically something valuable.

contrive to have

Suggests achieving something through cleverness or scheming.

arrange to have

Implies planning or preparation to obtain something.

be in a position to have

Emphasizes the circumstances that allow someone to possess something.

secure possession of

Emphasizes the act of obtaining and holding something safely.

bring about having

Focuses on the act of causing something to exist or be possessed.

become the possessor of

Highlights the transition into owning or holding something.

FAQs

How can I use "manage to have" in a sentence?

Use "manage to have" when you want to emphasize the effort or difficulty involved in obtaining something. For example, "Despite the challenges, she managed to have her project completed on time."

What are some alternatives to "manage to have"?

You can use alternatives like "succeed in having", "be able to have", or "arrange to have" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "manage to have" or simply "have"?

"Manage to have" can be perceived as slightly more formal as it implies a level of effort or planning. "Have" is generally more neutral and suitable for most contexts.

What's the difference between "manage to have" and "try to have"?

"Manage to have" implies successful attainment, while "try to have" only indicates an attempt, without guaranteeing success. For instance, "I managed to have a meeting with the CEO" means the meeting happened, whereas "I tried to have a meeting with the CEO" only means I attempted to schedule one.