had already pulled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had already pulled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action was completed before another point in time or another action occurred. Example: "By the time the meeting started, she had already pulled all the necessary reports for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Communists had already pulled out.

The Economist

Mr. Larson had already pulled away in his black truck.

The New York Times

I wasn't coy; I had already pulled out the soup pot.

The New York Times - Food

In terms of gay rights, San Francisco had already pulled ahead of New York by 1969.

The New Yorker

Pete Sampras and Tommy Haas had already pulled out of the Australian Open.

The New York Times - Sports

He remembered when Notre Dame said it did not have a scholarship, after Michigan State had already pulled its offer.

The New York Times - Sports

By that time, the United States Marshals Service had already pulled all federal prisoners out of the jail.

The New York Times

He had already pulled out of his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, having taken the Ukrainian's title on points last November.

The Guardian - Sport

The major churches had already pulled out of providing SRI in South Australia, beginning with the Methodists in 1968.

The Guardian - Opinion

He had already pulled off what was then the biggest heist of classified information in the history of American espionage.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Levine had already pulled out of performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 9 over the weekend and on Tuesday.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly supports the use of the past perfect tense. "Had already pulled" is most effective when contrasting the prior action with a subsequent event.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense ("pulled") when the action clearly occurred before another action in the past. Using "had already pulled" clarifies the timeline and avoids ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had already pulled" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action that was completed before another point in time in the past. This is supported by Ludwig, which identifies its correct and usable application in written English. Examples show its use in various contexts to establish a clear sequence of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sports

10%

Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had already pulled" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. It serves to clearly establish a sequence of events by indicating that an action of withdrawing or removing occurred before another point in the past. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When writing, it's important to use "had already pulled" to clearly indicate that the pulling action happened before another event to avoid ambiguity. Some alternatives include "had withdrawn", "had already retracted" and "had already backed out".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already backed out

Highlights the act of leaving an agreement or commitment, often due to unforeseen circumstances.

had withdrawn

Focuses on the act of taking something back or removing oneself, similar to pulling out.

had already retracted

Emphasizes the reversal of a statement or action, implying a previous commitment.

had ceased participation

Highlights the ending of involvement in an activity or group.

had previously exited

Formal way of stating a prior departure from a situation or agreement.

had discontinued

Focuses on the cessation or termination of an activity or product.

had earlier terminated

Formally conveys the ending of something, such as a contract or agreement.

had earlier abandoned

Suggests a complete relinquishment or desertion of something.

had formerly relinquished

Implies a formal surrender or giving up of a right or claim.

had already recanted

Emphasizes the formal withdrawal of a previously held belief or statement.

FAQs

How can I use "had already pulled" in a sentence?

Use "had already pulled" to indicate that an action of withdrawing or removing occurred before another action in the past. For example: "By the time the investigation began, the company "had already pulled" the product from shelves."

What are some alternatives to "had already pulled"?

Some alternatives include "had withdrawn", "had already retracted", or "had already backed out", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "already pulled" instead of "had already pulled"?

While "already pulled" might be acceptable in informal contexts, "had already pulled" is grammatically more precise and appropriate for formal writing. It clearly establishes the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another past action.

What's the difference between "had already pulled" and "pulled out"?

"Had already pulled" emphasizes the completion of the action before a specific point in time. "Pulled out", on the other hand, simply indicates the act of withdrawing, without necessarily specifying that it occurred before another event. For example, the phrase "had already pulled" implies that the action of pulling was completed before something else happened, whereas pulled out simply refers to the action of withdrawal itself.