they have done something

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'they have done something' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone took action to do something. For example: "My friends have done something special for my birthday this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, they have done something rather novel and wonderful.

The New York Times - Food

Many women who have experienced a miscarriage feel that they have done something wrong.

Harvard University

Unless, they have done something completely heinous – then that may be a different matter.

Harvard University

Intellectuals despise it, which probably reassures the businessmen that they have done something right.

The New York Times

"The people who show up here know they have done something.

The New York Times

"By and large they have done something exceptional before they get into college".

The New York Times

"So far, no one has proven that they have done something wrong," she said.

The New York Times

Also, the state department is happy, because they can show that they "have done something".

The New York Times

People experience guilt and its close cousin shame when they have done something wrong.

Harvard Business Review

"Politicians believe they have done something good for us, so we should applaud," Ms. Kaufman said.

The New York Times

"They have done something, even though the initial objective was to evacuate British and other nationals".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they have done something", ensure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "they have done something" without a clear antecedent for "they". Make sure it's obvious who or what group is being referred to, otherwise, rewrite the sentence to specify the actors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they have done something" functions as a declarative statement. It asserts that a group or entity has performed an action. As confirmed by Ludwig, the sentence is grammatically correct and serves to introduce information about a completed act.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

13%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they have done something" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that a group has taken action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and highlights its wide applicability. It's particularly common in news and media, academic writing, and general communication. To ensure clarity, always make sure it is clear who "they" refers to. While it is most commonly used in the aforementioned sources, other alternatives such as "they accomplished something" or "they achieved something" can also be considered, based on the degree of formality needed in any kind of context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they accomplished something

This alternative replaces "done" with "accomplished", implying a successful completion or achievement.

they achieved something

Similar to "accomplished", this version emphasizes the attainment of a goal or objective.

they took action

This is a more general alternative, indicating that a group has initiated some kind of activity.

they carried out an action

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the performance of a specific action or task.

they performed a task

Similar to "carried out an action", but slightly more specific to tasks or duties.

they made a contribution

This phrase suggests that their action had a positive effect or added value.

they took steps

Highlights that a series of actions, steps or interventions were undertaken.

they were effective

This emphasizes the successful or productive nature of their actions.

they had an impact

Focuses on the result or effect of their actions.

they intervened

Implies they took action to change a situation, often with the sense of solving a problem.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they have done something" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "they accomplished something", "they achieved a goal", or "they carried out a task". These alternatives, similar to "they have done something", often add specificity and convey a higher degree of formality.

What's a more casual way to say "they have done something"?

In informal contexts, you might say "they did something". While similar in meaning to "they have done something", it's less formal and more conversational.

Is it always necessary to specify what "they" refers to when using "they have done something"?

Yes, clarity is crucial. Ensure the context makes it obvious who or what "they" refers to. If there's any ambiguity, revise the sentence for clarity by directly naming the actors.

How does "they have done something" differ from "they did something"?

"They have done something" implies a completed action with relevance to the present, while "they did something" simply refers to a past action without necessarily implying present relevance. For example, if you would like to indicate they "took action".