would have landed

USAGE SUMMARY

'would have landed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express in the past tense a hypothetical situation that may have been true in a different scenario. For example, "If we had left on time, we would have landed before the storm hit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If they had, God knows where we would have landed".

The New York Times

In many countries, that would have landed him in prison.

The New York Times

Even attempting to contact relatives in the north would have landed a South Korean in trouble.

The Economist

In addition, he would have landed in a rugged, heavily wooded area.

Britannica

It's a t-shirt that would have landed people in jail a few weeks ago.

The Guardian

In 2002, a drive over the bunker would have landed in the rough.

The New York Times

"My boosters would have landed in the Long Island Sound," Mr. Hess said.

The New York Times

And had his two top lieutenants been included, they, too, would have landed among the top five on the list.

The New York Times

I've known Jamie for years and he, too, probably would have landed prominent posts even without his name.

The New York Times

When asked where he thought the opposite-field drive would have landed without the wind, he said, "Same place".

The New York Times - Sports

They also said the pilot of the airliner would have landed if he had been ordered to do so.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have landed" to describe hypothetical past events, particularly when discussing potential outcomes that did not occur. For example, "If the pilot had reacted faster, the plane would have landed safely."

Common error

Avoid using "would have landed" when referring to present or future events. This phrase specifically references a hypothetical past action and its consequence. Use "will land" or "would land" for other tenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have landed" functions as a modal verb construction expressing a hypothetical or conditional outcome in the past. It indicates what could have happened under different circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

14%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have landed" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to express a hypothetical past outcome. As verified by Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for use in various writing contexts, ranging from news reports to academic papers. The phrase's purpose is often to speculate about what might have happened under different conditions, implying a sense of possibility or regret. While its register is generally neutral, it appears most frequently in news and media, academic settings, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure the tense is consistent with the hypothetical past being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would have arrived

Focuses more on the act of reaching a destination, rather than the specific manner of landing.

would have ended up

Implies a less precise destination or a more general outcome.

would have finished

Emphasizes the completion of an action or journey, instead of the physical act of landing.

would have found itself

Suggests a less intentional or more accidental arrival at a place or situation.

would have positioned itself

Emphasizes the achievement of a particular position.

would have come to rest

Emphasizes the finality of reaching a resting place, often after a period of movement.

would have been situated

Focuses on the location or placement of something.

would have been located

Implies the establishment or finding of a location.

would have been established

Emphasizes the successful beginning or creation of something.

would have settled

Focuses on the act of establishing a more permanent residence or state.

FAQs

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

"Would have landed" is used to describe a hypothetical past event. For example, "If the weather had been clear, the plane "would have landed" on time."

What's a simple alternative to "would have landed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "would have arrived" or "would have ended up".

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

No, "would of landed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""would have landed"", which uses the auxiliary verb "have".

What is the difference between "would have landed" and "would land"?

"Would have landed" refers to a past hypothetical situation, while "would land" can refer to a future or habitual action in a hypothetical context. For example, "If there were an airport, the plane would land here" (future/habitual), versus "If the pilot hadn't been so tired, the plane "would have landed" safely" (past hypothetical).