would have declared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have declared" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past that did not occur, often in conditional sentences. Example: "If he had known the truth, he would have declared his intentions openly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

I certainly would have declared the loan if Peter had asked me.

The Economist

If Nassau County were a business, it would have declared bankruptcy by now.

The New York Times

A wise America, a calm America, would have declared victory and moved on.

The Times

"If this were a hurricane, the federal government would have declared a state of emergency".

The New York Times

Mr. Ryan's Congressional voting record reflects a religiously conservative bent; he was a co-sponsor of legislation that would have declared human life to begin at fertilization.

The New York Times

"If someone had told us before the match that we would beat Inter by three goals, we would have declared him mad".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

If you, Beto O'Rourke, and Stacey Abrams had won, people would've declared centrist Democrats finished.

Harvard University

If he'd been in charge half a century later, the media would've declared he'd brought sexy back to cricket.

Huffington Post

Whether he'd have declared had they been 250-4, I don't know, but he'd probably have chosen to have done so with 20 overs to go, to come steaming in and knock Andrew Strauss over or something to make a point.

BBC

If it had, Bradford would not have declared the three days of sport and feasting in 1621 that became known as the first Thanksgiving.

The New York Times

Had the process been a success, ministers would not have declared that the credit belonged to their officials.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would have declared", ensure the context clearly establishes the condition that would have led to the declaration. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses within the conditional clause. If you start with 'if [past perfect]', ensure the main clause uses 'would have + past participle'. For example, instead of saying 'If he knew, he would declare', use 'If he had known, he "would have declared".'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have declared" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a hypothetical action in the past. It is typically used within conditional sentences to express what would have happened under different circumstances. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in diverse contexts, affirming its role in expressing unrealized past possibilities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have declared" is a modal verb phrase used to express hypothetical past actions or states. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media, as well as academic contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the tense sequence within conditional clauses is correct and clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternative phrases like "would have announced" or "might have stated" for subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would have announced

Focuses on the act of making something known formally or publicly.

would have proclaimed

Emphasizes a strong, formal declaration or announcement.

would have stated

Highlights a formal expression of an opinion or fact.

would have stipulated

Implies setting down specific conditions or requirements.

would have decreed

Suggests an official order or judgment.

would have judged

Focuses on forming an opinion or assessment.

would have ruled

Implies making an official decision or judgment in a legal or authoritative context.

would have designated

Highlights the act of officially assigning a status or role.

would have affirmed

Emphasizes a confirmation or validation of something.

might have declared

Expresses possibility rather than certainty of a declaration.

FAQs

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

Use "would have declared" to describe a past hypothetical situation. For example, 'If the evidence had been presented, the court "would have declared" a mistrial'.

What are some alternatives to "would have declared"?

You can use alternatives like "would have announced", "would have stated", or "might have announced" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "would have declared" and "would declare"?

"Would have declared" refers to a hypothetical situation in the past, while "would declare" refers to a hypothetical situation in the present or future. For example, 'If he had been present, he "would have declared" his support' versus 'If he were present, he would declare his support'.

Is it correct to say "would of declared" instead of "would have declared"?

No, "would of declared" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "would have declared", using "have" as the auxiliary verb.