would have won

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'would have won' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that might have happened in the past, but didn't. For example: "If I had studied harder, I would have won the spelling bee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maybe he would have won.

The New Yorker

This team would have won the N.F.C.

The New York Times

"We would have won championships with him.

The New York Times - Sports

But we would have won this race".

The New York Times

I would have won more.

Harvard Business Review

He would have won $320.40.

The New York Times - Sports

"Maybe I would have won.

The New York Times - Sports

We would have won anyway".

The Guardian - Sport

They would have won an appeal.

The Washington Post

Rose's probably would have won, Zutant suggested.

The Washington Post

Using this system, Romney would have won.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing past events, ensure the condition necessary for the victory is clearly stated or implied. For example, "With a stronger defense, the team would have won."

Common error

Avoid using "would of won" instead of "would have won". The correct form uses the auxiliary verb 'have', not the preposition 'of'. Always remember, it's "would have", not "would of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have won" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a hypothetical outcome in the past. It indicates what could have happened under different circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

4%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have won" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for describing hypothetical past outcomes. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and analysis reveals its widespread usage in news, sports, and formal contexts. When writing, remember to use "would have", not "would of", and ensure the context clearly implies or states the conditions leading to the hypothetical victory. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "would have won" to add depth and nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have triumphed

Replaces "would" with "could", suggesting possibility rather than certainty of winning.

might have prevailed

Substitutes "would" with "might", indicating a lower probability of winning.

may have succeeded

Emphasizes success as the outcome instead of winning, softening the competitive aspect.

had a chance to win

Focuses on the opportunity to win, rather than the hypothetical victory itself.

was poised for victory

Highlights the state of readiness for winning, implying near certainty.

was on track to win

Indicates progress towards winning before an unforeseen change in circumstances.

was likely to win

Expresses probability of winning based on available evidence or expectations.

stood to win

Suggests that winning was a potential outcome or benefit.

was in a winning position

Describes a situation favorable for winning at a specific point in time.

was destined to win

Implies that winning was inevitable or predetermined.

FAQs

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

Use "would have won" to describe a past event that didn't happen but could have under different circumstances. For example, "If she hadn't been injured, she would have won the competition".

What phrases are similar to "would have won"?

Alternatives include "could have triumphed", "might have prevailed", or "may have succeeded", depending on the context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

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

No, "would of won" is incorrect. The correct form is "would have won". The error arises from the similar pronunciation of "have" and "of", but "have" is the auxiliary verb needed to form the perfect conditional tense.

What is the difference between "would have won" and "could have won"?

"Would have won" suggests a higher degree of certainty that the victory would have occurred if conditions had been different. "Could have won", on the other hand, implies only a possibility of winning. The choice depends on how likely the victory seemed.