would have secured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have secured" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where a different action could have led to a different outcome. Example: "If we had invested in that project earlier, it would have secured our position in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That would have secured first place for Sasikiran.

The New York Times

President Trump would have secured the release of the prisoners held by Iran "in 48 hours".

Independent

A first down for Brother Martin would have secured the victory on a tiebreaker.

The New York Times - Sports

Without tactical voting, their 17% of the vote would have secured them only 28 seats.

The Economist

I am sure the lawyers were right and that we would have secured substantial damages".

The Guardian

American diplomats had said they were confident they would have secured the nine votes needed for passage.

The New York Times

BA claims its offer, coupled with a deal with the T&G, would have secured the future of the firm.

The Economist

My father would have secured the doors and windows and turned the air-conditioning on full blast.

The New Yorker

Manchester would have secured a spot in the final eight with two games to spare by winning.

The New York Times - Sports

Francis Paonessa, head of Bombardier's UK passenger division, said winning the Thameslink contract would have "secured workload at this site".

The Guardian - Business

Had the Buccaneers lost yesterday, the Giants would have secured the No. 3 seeding and opened against the Washington Redskins.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that a specific action in the past could have led to a guaranteed result, making the consequence clear.

Common error

Avoid using "would have secured" when referring to a present or future action. This phrase strictly applies to past hypothetical scenarios. For present or future scenarios, consider using "would secure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have secured" functions as a conditional past perfect, indicating a hypothetical outcome in the past that was dependent on a specific condition. As shown in Ludwig, the expression describes a past action that, if completed, would have led to a different result.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have secured" is a versatile phrase used to express hypothetical past outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. Its prevalence in news and media, academia, and formal business contexts highlights its formal or neutral register. When writing with the phrase, be mindful of its use for only past hypothetical situations, differentiating it from "would secure", which implies a present or future possibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have guaranteed

Emphasizes the certainty of the outcome, rather than just the act of securing it.

might have ensured

Suggests a slightly lower degree of certainty compared to "would have".

could have made certain

Highlights the act of making something certain, focusing on the effort involved.

would have ensured the acquisition of

Specifically points to obtaining something, adding a concrete object to the securing action.

would have finalized

Focuses on the completion or ending of a process to secure something.

would have locked in

Uses a more informal, yet direct way of expressing the act of securing something, implying a firm hold.

would have nailed down

Similar to "locked in", this option offers a less formal tone, emphasizing a successful securing of an outcome.

would have clinched

Implies a last-minute effort to secure victory or a desired result.

would have wrapped up

Suggests bringing a process to a successful conclusion, thus securing the desired outcome.

would have established

Highlights the creation or setting up of something that provides security or advantage.

FAQs

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

Use "would have secured" to describe a past hypothetical situation where a specific action could have guaranteed a certain outcome. For example, "If she had invested earlier, it "would have secured" her market position."

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

You can use alternatives like "could have guaranteed", "might have ensured", or "could have made certain" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "would secure" instead of "would have secured"?

The phrase "would secure" suggests a conditional action in the present or future, while "would have secured" refers to a hypothetical situation in the past. The correct choice depends on the intended time frame and conditionality.

What's the difference between "would have secured" and "secured"?

"Secured" indicates an action that definitively happened and was successful. "Would have secured" suggests a hypothetical scenario where something could have been secured, but wasn't.