that they did

USAGE SUMMARY

"that they did" is a perfectly grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a previous statement or action. For example: "The students were asked to solve the problem, and they completed it without any difficulty - that they did."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That, they did.

Cornell University

"And after that, they did a lot.

The New York Times

The crowd liked that, they did.

The Guardian - Sport

That they did.

The New York Times

And that they did.

Columbia University

And that they did not.

The New York Times

(Róheim concluded that they did).

The New Yorker

Except that they did.

The Guardian

Now I know that they did not.

The New Yorker

Not that they did get along.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

After that, they don't care.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In writing, ensure the subject to which "that they did" refers is unambiguously clear. Avoid ambiguity by placing it close to the action being affirmed.

Common error

Avoid using "that they did" when a more specific or descriptive phrase would provide greater clarity. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or lacking in detail.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that they did" functions as a pro-verbial phrase, succinctly confirming a preceding action or statement. Ludwig examples showcase its role in providing emphasis or agreement. It often serves to avoid redundancy by replacing a more detailed restatement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that they did" is a versatile phrase used to affirm or confirm a previous statement or action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its common occurrence across diverse sources like news, academic papers, and scientific publications highlights its broad applicability. When writing, using this phrase can provide emphasis, agreement, and avoid redundancy. However, overuse should be avoided. As highlighted by Ludwig's examples, alternatives such as "indeed they did" or "they certainly did" may provide a more nuanced expression depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they certainly did

Adds emphasis to the affirmation.

indeed they did

A more formal way of expressing agreement.

and so they did

Highlights the sequence of events, emphasizing the consequence.

that's what they did

Focuses on the specific action taken.

they accomplished that

Emphasizes the successful completion of something.

they achieved it

Highlights the attainment of a goal.

they really did

Adds a degree of surprise or disbelief.

they actually did

Similar to 'they really did', but can also imply overcoming an obstacle.

they performed that action

A more formal and descriptive way to state what was done.

they followed through

Indicates the completion of a plan or promise.

FAQs

How can I use "that they did" in a sentence?

Use "that they did" to succinctly confirm a previous action or statement. For example, "The team aimed to improve sales, and "that they did", exceeding all expectations".

What does "that they did" mean?

"That they did" is a phrase used to express agreement or confirmation that something previously mentioned has indeed occurred or is true.

Which is correct, "that they did" or "what they did"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "That they did" confirms a previous statement. "What they did" introduces a description of their actions.

What are some alternatives to "that they did"?

You can use alternatives like "indeed they did", "they certainly did", or "and so they did" to express confirmation or agreement, depending on the context.