had applying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had applying" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of verb forms and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I had applying for the job before I realized it was closed." (This sentence is incorrect.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Producer Albert R. Broccoli known to all as Cubby disagreed with Fleming's view, later commenting that "I wanted a ballsy guy ... put a bit of veneer over that tough Scottish hide and you've got Fleming's Bond instead of all the mincing poofs we had applying for the job".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He had applied two times before.

The New York Times

Morales had applied for asylum a month earlier.

The New Yorker

plan for which we had applied.

The New York Times - Magazine

They had applied for the privilege.

The New York Times - Magazine

The F.A.A. refused to say which airlines had applied.

The New York Times

He was told that he had applied too late.

The New York Times

I contacted one couple who had applied, "Marc and Tessa Cain".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He had applied for many jobs, but without success.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Miliband subsequently denied the US had applied such pressure.

The Guardian

I asked if he had applied to Madison yet.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form of 'apply', which is 'applied', after the auxiliary verb 'had'. For ongoing actions in the past, consider 'was applying'.

Common error

Avoid mixing past perfect with present participle. Using "had applying" incorrectly combines these forms. Remember, "had" requires a past participle (e.g., "had applied"), while the present participle (-ing form) usually follows a form of "be" (e.g., "was applying").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had applying" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates this construction is not standard English. The correct past perfect construction uses "had applied".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had applying" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this. The correct form for past perfect is "had applied", and for past continuous, "was/were applying". While the phrase appears in some sources, primarily News & Media and Wiki, its infrequent use and grammatical error render it unsuitable for formal writing. When expressing an action of application in the past, ensure the correct verb tense is used to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had applied

Corrects the verb tense for completed actions in the past.

was applying

Indicates a continuous action in the past.

were applying

Plural form indicating a continuous action in the past.

submitted an application

Replaces the verb phrase with a noun-based expression.

made an application

Another noun-based alternative to 'applying'.

put in an application

An idiomatic way of saying someone applied.

began to apply

Emphasizes the start of the application process.

started applying

Similar to 'began to apply', but slightly more informal.

undertook application

Formal way of saying someone applied.

completed the application

Focuses on the completion of the application.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "apply" in the past perfect tense?

The correct form is "had applied". For instance, "He "had applied" for the job before the deadline".

Can I use "applying" after "had"?

No, "applying" is the present participle and should follow forms of "be", such as "was" or "were". The past perfect tense requires the past participle, which is "applied".

What's the difference between "had applied" and "was applying"?

"Had applied" indicates a completed action before another point in the past, while "was applying" indicates an ongoing action in the past.

What are some alternatives to "had applying" if I want to express an action in progress in the past?

Use "was applying" or "were applying", depending on the subject. For example, "I was applying for jobs all last month", or "They "were applying" to several universities".