ship has sunk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ship has sunk" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to a ship that has been destroyed and sunken, usually in the context of an accident or other catastrophic event. Example: news reports have confirmed that the great ship Titanic has sunk after colliding with an iceberg.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Jump aboard — neither ship has sunk yet — and offer your thoughts.

The New York Times - Sports

The old ship has sunk, Baker suggests, but the new one still leaks.

The New York Times

Pi's terror, when he realises that the ship has sunk, his family are surely dead and he is sharing a boat with a growling tiger, gives way to pity as his soaked companion paws pitifully at a raft to get back into the boat, and then to wild-eyed dominance when, in a moment of starving madness, he stares the animal down.

The Economist

When the ship has sunk, everyone knows how she could have been saved.

Forbes

Aunt Alice has offered shelter and board to her two motherless nephews, Digory and Cubby Beale, while their father is away at sea, but when word arrives that Mr. Beale's ship has sunk, she sends Digory off to Plymouth to confirm that his father's name is officially listed among the lost.

Johns Hopkins University

"And, right now, as we sit here today, that ship has sunk.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Twenty hours later the ship "had sunk beneath the waves".

The Guardian - Opinion

"Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk," Reuters quoted one survivor as saying.

The New York Times

If the ship had sunk or was a total loss with no freight pending, the claimants got nothing.

Britannica

Despite desperate avoidance efforts the ship struck the iceberg, and in just over two and half hours the entire ship had sunk, with the loss of 1514 lives.

The Guardian

The producers of Red Or Black are all smart and talented people, and introduced skill into series two, but by then the ship had sunk.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ship has sunk", ensure the context clearly indicates the type of ship and any specific circumstances surrounding its sinking. This provides a clearer picture for the reader.

Common error

Do not use "ship has sunk" in metaphorical contexts without proper framing. This can confuse readers who might interpret it literally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ship has sunk" functions as a declarative statement indicating the completed action of a ship sinking. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show it used in news reports and historical accounts to convey the fact that a ship is no longer afloat.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ship has sunk" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a maritime event where a ship is no longer afloat. While it's not extremely common, it appears primarily in news and academic contexts, maintaining a neutral to formal register. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, offering various examples of how it's applied in real-world scenarios. When using this phrase, ensuring clarity in context is vital to prevent misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the ship went down

Uses a more colloquial expression to indicate the sinking of a ship.

the vessel foundered

Replaces "ship" with "vessel" and uses the verb "foundered" to describe the sinking.

the ship was wrecked

Focuses on the destructive event that led to the ship sinking.

the boat was lost at sea

Focuses on the loss of the boat, implying it has sunk or been destroyed.

the ship was submerged

Describes the state of the ship after sinking.

the freighter capsized and sank

Details the process and action.

the marinecraft sank to the bottom

Replaces "ship" with a more formal "marinecraft" and specifies its final resting place.

the yacht disappeared beneath the waves

Emphasizes the dramatic sinking action.

the sea claimed the vessel

Uses a more poetic expression, attributing the sinking to the sea.

the naval ship was destroyed

Implies the ship was purposefully attacked.

FAQs

How to use "ship has sunk" in a sentence?

You can use "ship has sunk" to describe a maritime disaster, for instance: "News reports confirmed that the ship has sunk after colliding with an iceberg".

What can I say instead of "ship has sunk"?

Alternatives include "the vessel foundered", "the ship went down", or "the boat was lost at sea", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ship has sunk" or "ship had sunk"?

"Ship has sunk" implies a recent or ongoing relevance, while "ship had sunk" refers to a past event that is no longer directly relevant. The choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "ship has sunk" and "ship is sinking"?

"Ship has sunk" indicates the ship is completely underwater, while "ship is sinking" describes the process of the ship going underwater.