provided they have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provided they have" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you are introducing a condition, or a requirement that must be met before something else can occur. For example: "Students can receive their diplomas at the graduation ceremony provided they have fulfilled all their academic requirements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those retiring after April 5, 2016 will get a new single-tier state pension of around £7000 a year, provided they have made 35 years of national insurance contributions.

The Economist

"A lot of people would be happy to accept it on the calendar for 2012 provided they have sorted out the problems there".

BBC

They persist through the winter and, provided they have some shelter from the coldest winds, their fronds will look as pristine in the early new year as they did in midsummer.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

People who are not normally required to file a tax return are also eligible, provided they had at least $3,000 in qualifying income, which includes some payments from Social Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the I.R.S. said.

The New York Times

Children of the Windrush generation – those invited by the British government to work in the UK after the second world war – were automatically entitled to settled status under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, provided they had documentation that satisfied the Home Office.

The Guardian

Humans, along with some other primates are unusual in that the adrenal cortex secretes large quantities of adrenal androgens, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which can then be converted into active steroids in peripheral tissues providing they have the appropriate enzymes (Labrie 2004).

Clinical interventions in aging

But the French love Detroit cars, providing they have tailfins and were built before 1961.

The New York Times

The plan endorsed by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis)., by contrast, offers less financial assistance to low-income people, likely resulting in millions of Americans losing the health coverage they have today, and provides tax credits to people with higher incomes.

Huffington Post

Summer quarter enrollment is optional for students who intend to begin a new degree program in the Autumn quarter, provided that they have been enrolled the prior Spring quarter.

Stanford University

Schools formerly judged as providing an adequate education have, since September, been classed as "needing improvement".

The Guardian

His starting-point must be that any action should provide consumers with choices they do not have today, and also stimulate innovation that would have otherwise been chilled.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provided they have", follow it with a specific and measurable condition. Avoid vague conditions to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "provided they have" with ambiguous conditions. Ensure that the condition is clearly defined and measurable to prevent misunderstandings or disputes about whether the condition has been met.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provided they have" serves as a conditional conjunction, introducing a clause that specifies a necessary condition. As Ludwig AI indicates, it introduces a requirement that must be met for a particular outcome or situation to occur. This aligns with its common use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provided they have" is a versatile conditional conjunction used to introduce a necessary condition for a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI explains, this grammatically correct phrase is used to set up rules and constraints that must be met. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a variety of contexts, from news and media to scientific and business writing. Related phrases, such as "given that they have" and "as long as they have", can offer similar conditional meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis. Ensure clear and specific conditions to avoid ambiguity. Remember to ensure that you don't set vague conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

given that they have

Uses "given that" as a synonym for "provided that", resulting in a more direct substitution.

assuming they possess

Replaces "provided" with "assuming" and uses "possess" instead of "have", making it slightly more formal.

on the condition that they hold

Formal and emphasizes the conditional aspect with "on the condition that" and uses the verb "hold".

only if they possess

Strongly emphasizes the requirement using "only if" and replaces "have" with "possess".

if they are in possession of

More verbose and formal, emphasizing the state of possessing something.

subject to their having

Replaces "provided" with "subject to", indicating a dependency.

contingent upon them having

Highly formal, using "contingent upon" to indicate the conditional nature.

as long as they include

Offers a constraint using "as long as" for inclusivity.

assuming that they include

Puts a softer condition than the original, uses a softer verb "include" to talk about possession.

presuming they are in receipt of

Highly formal, uses "presuming" and "in receipt of" for a more elaborate expression.

FAQs

How can I use "provided they have" in a sentence?

Use "provided they have" to introduce a condition that must be met for something else to occur. For example, "Students will pass the course provided they have completed all assignments".

What are some alternatives to "provided they have"?

Alternatives include "given that they have", "as long as they have", or "on the condition that they have".

Is it more formal to say "provided that they have"?

Adding "that" after "provided" doesn't significantly change the formality. Both "provided they have" and "provided that they have" are acceptable in most contexts, though the latter may be perceived as slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "provided they have" and "if they have"?

"Provided they have" introduces a stronger condition or requirement compared to "if they have". While "if they have" simply states a condition, "provided they have" implies that the condition is essential or mandatory.