who would have

USAGE SUMMARY

'who would have' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express surprise or disbelief about something that did or did not happen. For example: "Who would have thought the company would be so successful?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Who would have imagined?

Independent

Who would have thought?

The New York Times

Who would have known?

The New York Times

Who would have guessed?

The New Yorker

Who would have figured?

The New Yorker

"Who would have believed that?

The New York Times - Sports

Who would have thought that?

The New York Times - Sports

Who would have dreamt it?

The New York Times

Who would have thunk it?

The New York Times

Who would have suspected it?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Who would have trusted me?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "who would have" to express surprise or disbelief about an unexpected outcome or situation. For example, "Who would have thought that he would win the election?"

Common error

Avoid using "who would have" to express a future possibility. This phrase refers to something in the past that was unexpected. For future possibilities, use "who would" or "who could".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who would have" functions as an interrogative expression used to convey surprise, disbelief, or retrospective reflection about an event or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and used to express surprise or disbelief. The examples show its usage in various contexts to question unexpected outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "who would have" is a versatile and frequently used phrase to express surprise, disbelief, or reflection on unexpected events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Its neutral register and prevalence in news and media demonstrate its broad applicability. While similar phrases exist, such as "who could have imagined" or "it's surprising that", "who would have" provides a concise and impactful way to convey astonishment or incredulity about past occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who could have imagined

Emphasizes the imaginative aspect of predicting the outcome.

who might have guessed

Highlights the element of guessing or prediction.

who could have foreseen

Focuses on the ability to foresee or anticipate an event.

who would have believed

Directly questions the believability of the situation.

it's hard to believe that

Expresses general disbelief or astonishment.

it's surprising that

Highlights the surprising nature of the event.

little did anyone know

Implies a lack of awareness or foresight.

against all expectations

Indicates the event occurred despite being unlikely.

contrary to popular belief

States the event contradicts common assumptions.

it defies comprehension

Expresses extreme difficulty in understanding the event.

FAQs

How can I use "who would have" in a sentence?

You can use "who would have" to express surprise or disbelief about a past event. For example, "Who would have thought it would rain on our parade?"

What's a more formal way to say "who would have"?

While "who would have" is generally acceptable, you could use phrases like "it is surprising that", "it is unexpected that", or "contrary to expectations" depending on the context.

Is "who would have thought" the same as "who could have thought"?

They are very similar. "Who would have thought" expresses a stronger sense of surprise, while "who could have thought" implies a lack of foresight or anticipation.

What can I say instead of "who would have" when something is obvious in retrospect?

You might say "it was inevitable", "it was bound to happen", or "it was to be expected" to convey that the event, in hindsight, was predictable.