they have collected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they have collected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people has gathered or amassed something, such as data, items, or information, over a period of time. Example: "After months of research, they have collected enough data to support their hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have collected over 800 testimonies to date.

Columbia University

Together, they have collected seven major doubles championships.

The New York Times - Sports

Here are the prosecutors with the evidence they have collected.

The Guardian

The unit ends with the students working with the data they have collected.

Yale University

Chitwood and his team of field walkers examine the artifacts they have collected.

Princeton University

knowledge of analytical methods to apply to the data they have collected.

Stanford University

What subtle point does Stanislas Dehaene make about interpreting the data they have collected?

The New York Times

They have collected and spent as much as $6 million on these ads.

The Washington Post

They have collected donations of instant noodles, biscuits, rice, medicine, clothes and bedding.

The New York Times

Investigators have not spoken publicly on forensic work or any other possible evidence they have collected.

The Washington Post

Both sites offer advice and scores of ways to parse the information they have collected.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they have collected", ensure that the context clearly indicates what "they" refers to and what has been gathered. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "they have collected" in situations where the collection is incomplete or ongoing. Instead, use phrases like "they are collecting" or "they are in the process of collecting" to indicate continuous action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they have collected" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates a completed action performed by a group. Ludwig examples showcase the phrase's use in various contexts, indicating that something has been gathered or accumulated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they have collected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase indicating that a group has completed gathering or accumulating something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and applicable in various contexts, including news, academia, and general communication. Its versatility and frequent use in authoritative sources confirm its validity and usefulness in everyday writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what "they" refers to and what has been collected to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they have gathered

Replaces "collected" with a synonym, "gathered", maintaining the same meaning of accumulating items or information.

they have accumulated

Uses "accumulated" instead of "collected", emphasizing the gradual increase in quantity over time.

they have amassed

Substitutes "collected" with "amassed", suggesting a large quantity has been gathered.

they've compiled

Replaces "have collected" with "'ve compiled", focusing on the organization of gathered information.

they've acquired

Uses "acquired" instead of "collected", highlighting how something was obtained.

they've obtained

Similar to "acquired", "obtained" emphasizes the act of getting or receiving something.

they possess

Replaces "have collected" with "possess", indicating ownership or control over what was gathered.

they hold

Simpler phrasing; replacing "they have collected" with the simpler "they hold" which can often convey the same meaning, depending on the context.

they've stored

Uses "stored" in place of "collected", emphasizing keeping what was acquired for later use.

they have retained

Replaces "collected" with "retained", indicating continued possession of something.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "they have collected"?

You can use alternatives like "they have gathered", "they have accumulated", or "they have compiled" depending on the specific context.

Is "they have collected" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they have collected" is grammatically correct. It uses the present perfect tense to indicate that a group has completed the action of collecting something.

How to use "they have collected" in a sentence?

Use "they have collected" to indicate that a group has gathered or accumulated something. For example: "They have collected enough data to support their hypothesis."

What is the difference between "they have collected" and "they are collecting"?

"They have collected" indicates that the action of collecting is complete, while "they are collecting" indicates that the action is ongoing. For example, "They have collected all the necessary signatures" (completed) versus "They are collecting signatures for the petition" (in progress).