we have received

USAGE SUMMARY

"we have received" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the fact that something has come into your possession via someone else, often as a result of a delivery or sending of some kind. For example: "We have received a shipment of new office furniture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have received the draft.

The New York Times

We have received and evaluated your message.

The New York Times

There are claims that we have received.

Independent

"We have received some criticism.

The Guardian

We have received hundreds of signatures.

The New York Times

"We have received some extraordinary material.

The New York Times

"We have received threats but nothing happened".

The New York Times

Since then, we have received further approaches.

The Guardian - Business

We have received several responses so far.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ct. we have received is 2006-IV.

Columbia University

And we have received little in return.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we have received", ensure that the subject, 'we', is clearly defined and that the object being received is explicitly stated or easily understood from the context. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity in communication.

Common error

Avoid using "we have received" without specifying what was received. For instance, instead of saying "We have received", specify "We have received your application" for clarity. This prevents the audience from wondering what you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we have received" primarily functions as a statement of acknowledgment. It confirms the receipt of something, whether it's information, an item, or a communication. Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we have received" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to acknowledge the receipt of something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is widely accepted and used across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, academia, and formal business communication. While there are alternative phrases such as "we obtained" or "we were given", it’s important to maintain clarity by explicitly stating what was received. The register leans toward neutral to professional, making it suitable for a wide range of communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we've gotten

Uses a contraction and a more informal verb, 'gotten', maintaining a similar meaning but with a slightly different tone.

we were given

Changes the focus to the act of giving, rather than receiving, while conveying the same information.

we obtained

Replaces "received" with the more formal "obtained", suggesting a deliberate effort to acquire something.

we've been sent

Focuses on the act of something being sent to the recipient, rather than the act of receiving.

we came into possession of

A more formal and detailed way of saying "we have received", emphasizing the change in ownership.

we were in receipt of

A very formal and slightly archaic way of saying "we have received".

something was delivered to us

Emphasizes the action of delivery and the recipient, rather than the act of receiving.

we accepted

Highlights the act of accepting something that was offered, implying consent or agreement.

we secured

Suggests a proactive effort to obtain something, implying a degree of competition or difficulty.

we collected

Focuses on gathering or accumulating something over time.

FAQs

How to use "we have received" in a sentence?

Use "we have received" to indicate that your organization or group has taken possession of something. For example, "We have received your payment" or "We have received the package you sent".

What can I say instead of "we have received"?

You can use alternatives like "we obtained", "we were given", or "we got" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "we have received" or "we had received"?

"We have received" indicates something was received recently or the receiving is relevant to the present. "We had received" refers to something received in the past before another past event.

What's the difference between "we have received" and "we received"?

"We have received" implies a recent event with continuing relevance; "we received" is a simple past tense statement about something that occurred. "We have received your email" suggests you're currently dealing with it; "We received your email" simply states it arrived.