had also started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had also started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action began in the past and is relevant to another past event or situation. Example: "By the time the meeting began, they had also started discussing the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had also started a rise up the ATP ranks.

Independent

He had also started an internship at a local bakery.

The Guardian - Opinion

During that time, Ms. Marden had also started a catering company with a friend, Meredith James.

The New York Times

Clerics had also started recognising instant divorces where the word "talaq" had been texted or emailed.

The Guardian

He had also started raising constitutional objections to the transfer restrictions in his signing statements.

The New York Times

Apple had also started to move away from using Qualcomm chips.

The New York Times - Tech

He had also started paying her rent, the newspaper reported at the time.

The Washington Post

His standing in public opinion polls had also started to drop in the last 10 days.

The New York Times

By now he had also started writing poetry in English more seriously.

The Guardian - Books

Next door to Chipotle, Starbucks had also started to display its calories.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He had also started making short Super 8 films and converting them to video.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had also started" to clearly indicate that an action began before another point in the past. This helps establish a sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had also started" when simple past tense ("also started") is sufficient. "Had also started" is appropriate when describing an action completed before another action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had also started" functions as a past perfect verb phrase indicating that an action began before another point in the past. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its use in establishing a sequence of events, similar to the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had also started" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that an action began prior to another event in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's valuable for establishing a clear sequence of events. It is widely used in News & Media, Academia and Wiki. When using this phrase, be mindful of proper tense and context to maintain clarity. Alternatives include "had also begun", "had additionally started", which offer similar meanings with slight differences in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had also begun

Uses "begun" as a synonym for "started", offering a slightly simpler alternative.

had additionally started

Replaces "also" with "additionally" to emphasize that the action is supplemental to something else.

had also commenced

Replaces "started" with the more formal "commenced", indicating a more official or serious beginning.

had also initiated

Substitutes "started" with "initiated", implying a more deliberate or planned beginning.

also started

Removes "had", which is grammatically correct if the context already establishes the past perfect tense.

had likewise started

Adds "likewise" to emphasize the parallel nature of the action, indicating similarity to a previous action.

had further started

Emphasizes that the start of the action is an added development.

had concurrently started

Indicates that the action began at the same time as something else.

had simultaneously started

Similar to "concurrently started", but places more emphasis on the synchronicity of the beginning.

had even started

Emphasizes the unexpected or surprising nature of the action's commencement.

FAQs

How does "had also started" differ from "also started"?

"Had also started" indicates an action that began and was completed before another event in the past. "Also started" simply indicates an action that began in the past. Use "had also started" to show a clear sequence of past events.

What are some alternatives to "had also started"?

You can use phrases like "had also begun", "had additionally started", or "had further started" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had also started" formal or informal?

"Had also started" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than on the phrase itself.

Can I use "had also started" to describe a current action?

No, "had also started" is used to describe actions completed in the past before another past action. To describe a current action, use the present perfect progressive tense, such as "has also started".