Had just closed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Had just closed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action was completed very recently in the past, often in relation to another event. Example: "The store had just closed when I arrived, so I couldn't buy anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The polls had just closed.

The Guardian - Business

The polls in the cities had just closed.

The New Yorker

"There were two who had just closed on houses".

The New York Times - Magazine

The farm, which has become a certified organic orchard, had just closed for the season.

The New York Times

Nor did she realize that she had just closed a $25 million deal.

The New York Times - Health

He said he had just closed in a role of considerable importance.

The New Yorker

His friend's hotel had just closed and his business was very slow.

The Guardian - Travel

The plane was still there, but its door had just closed, and that was that.

The New York Times

On the mobile we visited a village where the steel mill had just closed down.

The Guardian

This was no first-week curiosity shop he had just closed down with his talent and staying power.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The polls have just closed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase "had just closed", make sure the timeline of events is clear to the reader, ensuring the sequence and recency of the action are well-understood within the context of the surrounding information.

Common error

Avoid using "had just closed" when the action occurred a significant time ago. The phrase implies a very recent completion; using it for events that happened further in the past can create confusion and inaccuracy in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had just closed" functions as a past perfect construction to indicate that an action was completed very shortly before a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples show it used across diverse contexts to establish a clear temporal relationship between events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had just closed" is a versatile and frequently used phrase to denote the recent completion of an action relative to a past moment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread acceptance across various domains, especially in news and business contexts. The phrase effectively communicates the recency of an event, providing a clear temporal reference for listeners or readers. Remember to use this phrase accurately, ensuring the timeline of events is well-defined and the sense of immediacy is appropriate for the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had only just closed

Adds "only" to reinforce the immediate past nature of the closing.

had recently closed

Replaces "just" with "recently", emphasizing the recency of the closing.

had barely closed

Substitutes "just" with "barely", highlighting how little time had passed since the closing.

had finished closing

Replaces "just closed" with "finished closing", focusing on the completion of the action.

had completed closing

Similar to "finished closing" but emphasizes the thoroughness of the closing process.

had terminated just now

Uses "terminated" to replace "closed", conveying a more formal sense of ending and adds "just now" to emphasize the recent timing.

had shut down recently

Replaces "closed" with "shut down" and "just" with "recently", changing the wording while maintaining the meaning.

had ceased operations

A more formal alternative to "had just closed", indicating the end of business activities.

had drawn to a close

A more figurative way of saying something had ended, implying a gradual conclusion.

was recently shut

Changes the structure to passive voice, but means about the same.

FAQs

How can I use "had just closed" in a sentence?

You can use "had just closed" to indicate that something finished very recently. For example, "The store "had just closed" when I arrived, so I couldn't buy anything."

What are some alternatives to "had just closed"?

Some alternatives include "had recently closed", "had barely closed", or "had only just closed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has just closed" instead of "had just closed"?

While "has just closed" is grammatically correct, it refers to the present perfect tense, indicating an action completed recently and relevant to the present. "Had just closed" is in the past perfect tense, referring to an action completed before another point in the past. The choice depends on the context and the timeline you're establishing.

What is the difference between "had just closed" and "was recently closed"?

"Had just closed" indicates that an action concluded immediately before another past action or time. "Was recently closed" is a more general statement indicating that something was closed at some point not long ago, but it doesn't necessarily connect to another specific event in the past. The phrase "was recently closed" is more passive.