obtained a contract

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obtained a contract" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the successful acquisition of a formal agreement or contract, typically in a business or legal context. Example: "After months of negotiations, our company finally obtained a contract with the government for the new infrastructure project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

In 1954, Mitchell obtained a contract to supply ten per cent of Chicago's natural-gas needs.

The New Yorker

ENY community obtained a contract to undertake a charrette to plan an educational park.

Cornell University

had obtained a contract to sell portable computers to the parking bureau.

The New York Times

In 1924 the Marconi company obtained a contract from the post office to establish shortwave communication between England and the countries of the British Commonwealth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Meeting at Madison Square Garden, members of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union said 28,000 building service workers were willing to strike unless they obtained a contract giving them substantial raises.

The New York Times

In the interview on Tuesday Ms. Riskin acknowledged that she had obtained a contract for the rewrite partly to maintain her active status but that she was following union guidelines.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Everybody is working to obtain a contract," Warden Yarbrough said.

The New York Times

Those firms that do not obtain a contract will have to close.

The Guardian

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced yesterday that it was ending a three-year strike against Overnite Transportation without obtaining a contract.

The New York Times

A10 Teamsters End 3-Year Strike The Teamsters union announced that it was ending a three-year strike against the Overnite Transportation Company without obtaining a contract for 13,000 workers.

The New York Times

Winfield's agent had infuriated Steinbrenner by obtaining a contract with a big cost-of-living adjustment, which Steinbrenner hadn't fully understood.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing formal agreements, use "obtained a contract" to clearly indicate that an agreement was successfully acquired through proper channels.

Common error

Do not use "obtained a contract" without specifying the nature or scope of the agreement if it's relevant to the context. Be clear whether it's a service contract, a sales contract, etc.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtained a contract" functions as a verb phrase, where "obtained" is the transitive verb indicating the action of acquiring something, and "a contract" is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

23%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "obtained a contract" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the successful acquisition of a formal agreement. Ludwig AI validates this usage, emphasizing its appropriateness across a range of contexts, particularly in news, wiki, and encyclopedic sources. While versatile, clarity can be enhanced by specifying the type of contract involved. Alternatives such as "secured a contract" or "landed a contract" can add nuance depending on the situation. Understanding these subtleties allows for more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secured a contract

Replaces "obtained" with "secured", implying a more competitive or challenging acquisition process.

landed a contract

Uses "landed" instead of "obtained", suggesting a successful effort to gain the contract.

acquired a contract

Employs "acquired" which conveys a formal or business-oriented tone.

won a contract

Replaces "obtained" with "won", indicating success in a competition or bidding process.

procured a contract

Substitutes "obtained" with "procured", giving a formal and sometimes bureaucratic feel.

sealed a contract

Uses "sealed" instead of "obtained", implying finality and agreement.

entered into a contract

Rephrases "obtained a contract" to focus on the action of becoming a party to the agreement.

negotiated a contract

Highlights the negotiation process leading to the contract, rather than just the acquisition.

finalized a contract

Emphasizes the completion and formalization of the contract agreement.

clinched a contract

Uses "clinched", suggesting a hard-fought victory in getting the contract.

FAQs

What does "obtained a contract" mean?

The phrase "obtained a contract" means to have successfully acquired or secured a formal agreement, usually in a business or legal context. It indicates that someone has met the necessary requirements or won a bid to receive the contract.

What can I say instead of "obtained a contract"?

You can use alternatives like "secured a contract", "landed a contract", or "acquired a contract" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "obtained for a contract"?

No, the correct phrase is "obtained a contract". The preposition "for" is not used in this context. You might say "obtained funding for the contract" if you mean you secured financial support.

How is "obtained a contract" different from "bid on a contract"?

"Bid on a contract" means to make an offer for a contract, while "obtained a contract" means that the offer was accepted and the contract was successfully acquired. Bidding is only the initial step; obtaining is the final result.