Had we rejected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Had we rejected" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in conditional sentences to discuss hypothetical situations in the past. Example: "Had we rejected the proposal, we might have missed out on a great opportunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Had we rejected it, the player would have been able to leave for free in 2017.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

How many opportunities — both individually and as a city — have we rejected because we were afraid of traffic?

Los Angeles Times

Had we known, we would have rejected his participation".

The Guardian

"Some have suggested we reject this deal and impose unilateral sanctions to force Iran back to the table.

Independent

WALKER: We thought, as the call continues and I've said repeatedly, we rejected that.

Huffington Post

Then Peter shows us some tapes of boys who we had theoretically rejected and we all have the same reaction.

The Guardian

If we had rejected, the Russians would have interpreted it as a success," Mr. Lewicki said.

The New York Times

Crockett screamed that we had rejected a great gift, and that we were worthless.

The New Yorker

And we had rejected performance evaluations based only on numerical outcomes, recognizing that colleagues' methods and behavior also count.

The New York Times

"We've received two bids from Chelsea and we've rejected them," hard-balled Blackburn chief executive John Williams.

The Guardian - Sport

We have rejected four bids and have happily done so because he is a key player".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Had we rejected", ensure the subsequent clause clearly outlines the hypothetical consequences or outcomes of that rejection. This maintains clarity and logical flow within the sentence.

Common error

Avoid omitting the 'then' clause or its equivalent when using "Had we rejected". Without a clear consequence, the hypothetical scenario lacks impact and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Had we rejected" typically functions as part of a conditional clause, setting up a hypothetical scenario in the past. It introduces the condition that, if met, would have led to a different outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Had we rejected" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce hypothetical past scenarios. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it appears most commonly in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the subsequent clause explicitly states the hypothetical consequences. While relatively uncommon, using it effectively adds depth to discussions about past choices and their potential outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

If we had declined

Replaces "rejected" with "declined", maintaining the conditional and past tense structure.

Had we refused

Substitutes "rejected" with "refused", keeping the hypothetical and past tense context.

If we'd turned it down

Uses a more informal phrasing with "turned it down" instead of "rejected".

Had we not accepted

Employs a negative construction to convey the rejection indirectly.

If our rejection had occurred

Restructures the sentence to focus on the act of rejection itself.

Assuming we had rejected

Adds an explicit assumption to the hypothetical scenario.

In the event we rejected

Formal phrasing, indicating a hypothetical situation based on a rejection.

Supposing we had not approved

Replaces "rejected" with "not approved", changing the verb.

If we had given it a thumbs down

Informal expression indicating disapproval or rejection.

Had we said no to

Simple and direct substitution for "rejected", focusing on refusal.

FAQs

How can I use "Had we rejected" in a sentence?

"Had we rejected" is used to introduce a hypothetical situation in the past, often followed by a consequence. For example: "Had we rejected the offer, we would have missed a great opportunity."

What's a more formal way to say "Had we rejected"?

A more formal alternative is "Had we declined", which carries a similar meaning but is suitable for more professional contexts.

What can I say instead of "Had we rejected" to sound less formal?

To sound less formal, you could say, "If we'd turned it down" or "If we'd said no to it".

Is "Had we rejected" grammatically correct?

Yes, "Had we rejected" is grammatically correct, especially when used to start a conditional clause, often followed by 'we would have' or 'we might have'.