would have done

USAGE SUMMARY

"would have done" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something could have been done but was not. For example: "I would have done it earlier if I had known it was due that day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I would have done that".

The New Yorker

He would have done nothing.

The New Yorker

It would have done better.

The New York Times

We would have done everything".

The New Yorker

I would have done.

The Guardian

I would have done it no differently.

The New York Times - Books

Anything the team would have done differently?

The New York Times - Sports

"The most appearances" would have done fine.

Independent

Nobody else would have done it.

The Guardian - Sport

I did what anyone would have done.

Independent

What Villeneuve or Senna would have done.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have done" to express hypothetical past actions and their potential outcomes. This helps to convey nuanced meanings related to unrealized possibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "would have done" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. "Would have done" implies a condition or unrealized action, not a simple statement of fact.

Linguistic Context

Would have done functions as a modal construction, expressing a hypothetical action or situation in the past that did not occur. It typically combines with a main verb to indicate what someone would have done under different circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have done" is a very common modal construction used to express hypothetical past actions or situations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and versatile, fitting into neutral registers and appearing frequently in News & Media. When writing, remember that "would have done" implies an unrealized condition and avoid using it when a simple past tense is sufficient. For alternatives, consider "should have done", "could have done", or "might have done" to subtly change the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should have done

Indicates obligation or advisability in the past that was not fulfilled.

could have done

Suggests possibility in the past, but the action did not occur.

might have done

Expresses a lower degree of possibility or speculation about a past action.

were to do

Hypothetical action in the past, often used in conditional sentences.

was going to do

Indicates a planned or intended action in the past that was not carried out.

had done

Indicates a past action completed before another point in the past.

ended up doing

Shows the actual outcome of a situation, implying a different intention.

took action

Focuses on the act of taking steps, less about the hypothetical.

proceeded to do

Indicates moving forward with a specific task or action.

undertook to do

Signifies formally or seriously committing to a task or action.

FAQs

How do I use "would have done" in a sentence?

Use "would have done" to describe something that you could have done, but didn't. For example, "I "would have done" that differently if I had known better."

What's the difference between "would have done" and "should have done"?

"Would have done" indicates a hypothetical past action, while "should have done" implies a moral obligation or recommendation that was not followed.

What can I say instead of "would have done"?

Alternatives include "could have done", "might have done", or "should have done", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "would of done" correct instead of "would have done"?

"Would of done" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always ""would have done"", using the auxiliary verb "have".