they haven't

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they haven't" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not occurred or been done by the subject in question. Example: "They haven't finished their project yet, but they are making progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They haven't".

The New York Times

They haven't withered me.

The New York Times

Maybe they haven't.

The New Yorker

They haven't touched it.

The New Yorker

Regretfully, they haven't.

The New York Times

"They haven't added anything.

The New Yorker

Of course they haven't.

The New Yorker

In Wales, they haven't.

The Guardian

But if they haven't?

The New York Times

They haven't complained.

The Guardian - Tech

"They haven't changed".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse in overly formal writing; "they have not" may be more appropriate in some contexts.

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "they" correctly represents a plural subject. A common mistake is using "they haven't" when the subject is singular, which requires "he/she/it hasn't" or "hasn't".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they haven't" functions as a negative statement in the present perfect tense. It indicates that a group or entity has not completed an action or achieved a state up to the present moment. This is supported by Ludwig examples, showing use in various contexts, such as "they haven't changed" or "they haven't complained".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they haven't" is a common and grammatically correct contraction of "they have not", used to express that an action has not been completed by a group or entity. As indicated by Ludwig, it is frequently found in news and media contexts. While versatile, it is essential to maintain subject-verb agreement and consider using the full form, "they have not", in more formal settings. The wide acceptance and high frequency make "they haven't" a reliable choice for expressing the absence of a completed action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they have not

This is the full, uncontracted form of "they haven't".

they did not

This phrase uses "did" instead of "have" to express a past action that did not occur.

they've not

This phrase maintains the use of "have" but positions "not" after the auxiliary verb.

they still haven't

This adds emphasis on the duration, as in, the action hasn't happened after a period of time.

they have yet to

Similar to "they are yet to", this emphasizes the expectation of a future action.

it has not been done by them

This is a passive construction emphasizing the lack of action by "them".

they are yet to

This phrase indicates that an action is expected but has not happened up to the present time.

they're not there yet

This phrase describes the fact that the subject is in progress and has not reached the end.

they failed to

This alternative describes the fact that there was an intent to accomplish something that wasn't successful.

they are not at that point

This phrase indicates the impossibility for the subject to be at a certain moment.

FAQs

How do I use "they haven't" in a sentence?

"They haven't" is used to indicate that a group of people or things has not done something. For example, "they haven't finished the project yet" or "they haven't arrived at a decision".

What's the difference between "they haven't" and "they have not"?

"They haven't" is a contraction of "they have not". The meaning is the same, but "they haven't" is more informal. Use "they have not" in formal writing or when you want to emphasize the negation.

What can I say instead of "they haven't"?

Alternatives include "they did not", "they are yet to", or "they have yet to", depending on the context.

Is "they haven't" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they haven't" is a grammatically correct contraction of "they have not". It's commonly used in spoken and written English.