after having picked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after having picked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action of picking has been completed before another action takes place. Example: "After having picked the ripe apples, she decided to bake a pie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This year, she hopes to stage a comeback, after having picked up some tips from the Kenyans.

The New York Times

My parents would come by with the twins after having picked them up from the foster-care family and set them down to crawl around in the visiting room.

The New York Times - Magazine

He can ask audience members to think of a song from a list of songs and then identify the person who is thinking of a particular song, after having picked up interference from someone nearby who is thinking of another tune.

The New York Times

I had just come upstairs after having picked up a book from the lowest level of Perkins Library.

Duke University

Glasgow departed Coronel at 09 15 after having picked up the squadron's mail, and rendezvoused with the rest of the squadron four hours later.

Wikipedia

Justin Meyer died in 2002 after having picked his successor as winemaker, Daniel Baron, in 1994, and having worked alongside Baron until 2001.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Since the report was released, website after website, and blog after blog, has picked up this story.

Huffington Post

After Hayat and her father had been estranged, they reconciled last year after he had picked her up from an airport in France on her return from pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Independent

After you've picked your film and venue, you need to make sure people turn up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After he had picked himself up again, Norman began accepting anything and everything he was offered.

The Guardian - Film

This lets you define an event handler that says what to do after you've picked a number from your contacts.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "after having picked", ensure that the sequence of events is clear and that the second action logically follows the first. This construction is particularly effective when you want to emphasize the completion of the picking action before the subsequent event.

Common error

Avoid using "after having picked" when a simple "after picking" would suffice. Overusing the perfect tense can make your writing sound stilted and overly formal. Simpler is often better.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after having picked" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. It specifies that one event occurred subsequent to the act of picking. Ludwig AI confirms this construction is usable and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after having picked" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action occurred following the act of selection. While usable, it's often more concise and stylistically preferable to use "after picking" unless emphasizing the completion of the initial action is important. Ludwig AI marks the phrase as grammatically sound, but also suggests the existence of better alternatives. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Academic contexts. Be mindful of overusing the perfect tense to avoid a stilted writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following the selection of

Replaces "picked" with "selection" and rephrases the start for a more formal tone.

subsequent to choosing

A more formal alternative, replacing "having picked" with "choosing" and using "subsequent to" for "after".

once the choice had been made

Uses a passive voice and replaces "picked" with "choice" emphasizing the decision.

following my retrieval of

Formal, uses "retrieval" to replace 'picked' up.

on completion of picking

Focuses on the completion of the action.

with the selection completed

Emphasizes the completion of the selection process as a condition for the next action.

once a decision was reached

Focuses on the completion of the decision-making process.

after the acquisition of

Emphasizes the act of obtaining something.

with the chosen item in hand

Highlights the result of picking something up.

post selection

A concise, slightly more technical or business-oriented alternative.

FAQs

What does "after having picked" mean?

It means that subsequent actions occur following the completion of selection. You can use the alternative phrase "after choosing".

How can I use "after having picked" in a sentence?

For example: "After having picked the best candidate, the company moved forward with the hiring process."

What's a simpler way to say "after having picked"?

A simpler and often more concise way to say it is "after picking". The meaning is generally the same, but it can make your writing flow more smoothly.

Is "after having picked" always necessary, or can I just use "after picking"?

In most cases, "after picking" is sufficient and preferable. The "having" construction adds emphasis on the completion of the initial action. Use "after having picked" when that emphasis is crucial to the meaning.