had anticipated receiving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had anticipated receiving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing expectations or predictions about receiving something in the past. Example: "She had anticipated receiving a promotion after her successful project completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The county had anticipated receiving $8.1 million.

The New York Times

Vivendi decided to sell its French publishing assets like L'Express and other non-American assets separately because bids for the entire publishing unit all came in under $2.9 billion, the executives said, far below the $4 billion the company had anticipated receiving.

The New York Times

The Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission had anticipated receiving $235,000 in state funding to cover their expenses -- including a staff attorney -- a step up from last year's $150,000 budget, CBS Chicago reports.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

More than 5,500 workers — more than twice as many as the state had anticipated — received early retirement packages, which added thousands of dollars to many workers' annual pensions.

The New York Times

Instead of the sweet white meat I had anticipated, I received an enormous, dense and tough filet that was neither sweet nor even mildly cajun-accented.

The New York Times

In his letter, Mr. Corwick said Jersey City had accumulated more than $20 million in receivables -- amounts the city had anticipated getting but not yet received -- that it might never collect.

The New York Times

Others may still be feeling dissatisfaction with their returns, either because they owed money or received a smaller refund amount than they had anticipated.

Huffington Post

As we had anticipated, the latter question was associated with participants recalling having received information about NBS (odds ratio (OR) = 2.5, P < 0.01, data not shown).

Genetics in Medicine

Morton died 20 years later, having received medals for his achievement but never the financial reward he had anticipated.

The New York Times - Books

She said she had more books than the movers had anticipated, so the price wound up at the high end of the price range she received.

The New York Times

"It took us substantially longer than we had anticipated to receive the designation of the channel's 'public service' character which meant that we had very little time before the launch date for engagement with our prospective audience about electronic programme guide positions," said UTV chairman Richard Huntingford.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had anticipated receiving" when you want to emphasize that the expectation of receiving something was formed in the past, based on prior knowledge or planning. For a simpler alternative, consider "expected to receive".

Common error

Avoid using present or future tenses with "anticipated" when referring to past expectations. For example, instead of "They anticipate receiving the award," use "They had anticipated receiving the award" to correctly indicate a past expectation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had anticipated receiving" functions as a past perfect construction indicating an expectation that existed before a certain point in the past. It showcases a prior prediction or assumption regarding the act of receiving something, often with a degree of certainty or preparation. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had anticipated receiving" is a grammatically correct and usable way to express a past expectation of receiving something. Ludwig confirms the phrase's validity, highlighting that it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While more formal alternatives exist, such as "expected to receive", "had anticipated receiving" provides a nuance that emphasizes prior planning or knowledge. Keep in mind the tense consistency to avoid common errors. With its specific implications, "had anticipated receiving" provides a precise way to depict past expectations, enriching clarity and depth to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to receive

Focuses directly on the expectation of receiving, without necessarily implying prior planning or preparation.

had been expecting to receive

Indicates a continuous state of expectation leading up to the receiving.

had expected to get

A more common and straightforward alternative, lacking the formality of "anticipated".

looked forward to receiving

Emphasizes a positive sentiment and eagerness about receiving something.

had been waiting to receive

Emphasizes the act of waiting, implying patience or a delayed gratification.

had planned on receiving

Highlights the planning aspect, suggesting deliberate actions taken in anticipation of receiving.

had foreseen getting

Highlights the predictive aspect, implying a clear view of the future outcome.

had counted on getting

Implies a reliance or dependence on receiving something.

had presumed they would receive

Highlights the presumption that something would be received, potentially without concrete evidence.

had envisioned receiving

Focuses on the mental image or visualization of receiving, adding a layer of imagination.

FAQs

What does "had anticipated receiving" mean?

The phrase "had anticipated receiving" means someone expected or predicted they would receive something in the past. It indicates a prior expectation before the actual receiving event.

What can I say instead of "had anticipated receiving"?

You can use alternatives like "expected to receive", "looked forward to receiving", or "had been expecting to receive" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "have anticipated receiving"?

Using "have anticipated receiving" implies the anticipation is ongoing or has relevance to the present. "Had anticipated receiving" is used for past expectations that may or may not have been fulfilled.

How does the formality of "had anticipated receiving" compare to its alternatives?

"Had anticipated receiving" is more formal than simpler alternatives like "expected to get" or "had expected to receive". It is suitable for professional or academic contexts where precision is valued.