had acknowledged that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had acknowledged that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone recognized or accepted something in the past, often in a context where the acknowledgment is relevant to the current discussion. Example: "The committee had acknowledged that the proposal needed further review before approval."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Ryan had acknowledged that moisture was a factor.

The New York Times

Officials said Nomura had acknowledged that the transactions were improper.

The New York Times

Varoufakis now claims that, privately, Dijsselbloem had acknowledged that troika reform was inevitable.

The New Yorker

Either way, the Knicks had acknowledged that the challenge would be immense in the first round.

The New York Times - Sports

He had acknowledged that a lifetime might be insufficient to properly understand Brazil.

The New York Times

Pentagon officials said on Friday that Colonel Leberman had acknowledged that he doctored records.

The New York Times

Mr. Hobeika had acknowledged that he might face trouble because of his wartime role.

The New York Times

Ripken had acknowledged that his quest for 3,000 was a distraction.

The New York Times - Sports

In an interview with the BBC's Sue Barker on Tuesday, Federer had acknowledged that Ancic might be a tricky opponent.

Independent

In its annual report for 2007, IndyMac had acknowledged that it had a "terrible" year, having lost $615 million.

The New York Times

Another question: The president had acknowledged that Mr. Gonzales had work to do to repair his credibility with lawmakers.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had acknowledged that", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the acknowledgement and what they acknowledged. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had acknowledged that" in overly passive constructions. Instead of "It had been acknowledged that...", opt for a more direct and active phrasing like "The committee had acknowledged...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had acknowledged that" functions as a reporting verb phrase, used to indicate that someone recognized or accepted something as true or valid in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. This often introduces a subordinate clause containing the acknowledged information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had acknowledged that" is a grammatically correct and very common reporting verb phrase used to indicate a past recognition or acceptance of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correct usage spans various contexts, predominantly in news and media, with neutral formality. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding who acknowledged what, and avoid passive constructions for more direct and impactful writing. Related phrases like "had recognized that" or "had admitted that" can offer nuanced alternatives, depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had recognized that

Uses 'recognized' instead of 'acknowledged', implying a formal or official recognition.

had admitted that

Emphasizes a reluctant confession or admission of something, often negative.

had conceded that

Suggests yielding or giving way on a point or argument.

had confirmed that

Indicates a statement or fact was verified as true.

had affirmed that

Implies a strong and public declaration of something.

had avowed that

Suggests a formal and emphatic declaration or assertion.

had professed that

Indicates openly declaring or claiming something, often a belief or feeling.

had divulged that

Implies revealing information, often private or sensitive.

had disclosed that

Suggests revealing information that was previously concealed.

had understood that

Focuses on comprehension or awareness of a fact or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "had acknowledged that" in a sentence?

You can use "had acknowledged that" to show that someone previously recognized or admitted something. For example, "The company "had acknowledged that" the project was over budget".

What are some alternatives to "had acknowledged that"?

Alternatives include "had recognized that", "had admitted that", or "had conceded that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "had acknowledged that" and "had mentioned that"?

"Had acknowledged that" implies a recognition or acceptance of a fact or situation, whereas "had mentioned that" simply indicates that something was brought up in conversation without necessarily implying agreement or understanding.

Is it redundant to say "had acknowledged that"?

While not inherently redundant, ensure the "that" clause adds specific information. If the acknowledgement is clear without it, you might consider streamlining the sentence for conciseness.