must have received

USAGE SUMMARY

'must have received' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express a deduction from the evidence. For example: "The postman must have received the package, as I can see it has been signed for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I must have received 2,500 people.

The New York Times

Saturday's game must have received a good deal of attention then.

The New York Times - Sports

The staff must have received a directive to wear blue shirts.

The New York Times

After working with the expert perfumer, surely Madonna must have received quite an education in fine fragrance?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was on Congress's home turf, too, and the senators and representatives must have received mail from constituents.

The New York Times

The seven working day deadline relates to when you have to tell the company you'd like a refund, not when the company must have received returned items.

Independent

In response to Mr. Wideman's article, you must have received a lot of letters from people who say they do the same thing.

The New York Times

The retailer can then simply credit a buyer's card with the relevant sum but must have received the stamped form from Customs to reclaim the tax.

The New York Times - Travel

Agency experts became convinced that the Iranians must have received the same designs for an advanced centrifuge, known as the P2, that the Libyans had.

The New York Times - Magazine

Applicants must have received their Ph.D. within the past 5 years.

Science Magazine

I must have received 50 letters from FORBES readers who were ticked off by my negativism.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must have received", ensure the context provides clear evidence or logical reasoning to support the deduction being made.

Common error

Avoid using "must have received" solely based on assumption. Always ensure there is a logical basis or supporting information for the deduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must have received" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a strong deduction or inference about a past event. It indicates a high degree of certainty based on available evidence, similar to how Ludwig AI explains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Science & Research

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Professional

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "must have received" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for expressing a strong deduction about a past event. As Ludwig AI confirms, its meaning is clear: to infer a high probability that someone obtained something. It appears frequently in both news articles and scientific papers, demonstrating its versatility across various registers. When using this phrase, ensure that your deduction is based on logical reasoning, not mere assumption. Related phrases like "must have gotten" or "must have obtained" can be used to modulate the formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must have gotten

Replaces "received" with "gotten", maintaining the core meaning but with a slightly more informal tone.

must have obtained

Substitutes "received" with "obtained", suggesting a more formal or deliberate acquisition.

must have acquired

Uses "acquired" instead of "received", implying ownership or a more permanent form of reception.

is required to have received

Emphasizes the necessity of receiving something, shifting the focus to a requirement.

is obliged to have received

Similar to "is required to have received", but carries a stronger sense of duty or obligation.

is supposed to have received

Implies an expectation that something should have been received, potentially with a hint of doubt.

it is believed they received

Shifts the emphasis to a belief or assumption about the reception of something.

it is thought they received

Similar to "it is believed they received", but with a slightly less formal tone.

it's likely they were given

Conveys probability that someone was given something, rather than a definitive reception.

undoubtedly received

Emphasizes the certainty of receiving something

FAQs

How can I use "must have received" in a sentence?

Use "must have received" to express a logical deduction about something that has likely happened in the past, for example, "Given the delivery confirmation, she "must have received" the package yesterday".

What's a more formal alternative to "must have received"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "is required to have received" or "is obliged to have received", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "must have received" to imply uncertainty?

If you want to express more uncertainty, you can use alternatives like "is supposed to have received" or "it is believed they received".

Is it always correct to use "must have received" when talking about the past?

While generally correct, ensure that the past action is completed and that there is some evidence or logical reason to support your deduction. Otherwise, a different construction might be more appropriate.